Unleashing Your Remarkable Potential
Issue 6.51 - December 21, 2009 ISSN: 15516571

In Kevin's Own Words

The Starting Point of Any Change and Three Ways to Move Past It

Take a minute and mentally put yourself in a place that you love. You love the sights, the sounds, the activity you are engaging in. If there are others around they are people you are excited to be with. Take a minute and put yourself in that situation mentally right now.

Now, imagine that I wanted to take you from that place to some new situation or environment that you're not all that familiar with, but it's a place I honestly believe will be even better for you. Even knowing that I think it's great, how likely are you to be all that willing to leave the place you love to go with me to someplace new?

I'm guessing, not likely at all.

Of course, if I have excellent influence skills, ask you lots of questions to understand your situation/mindset, etc. and translate my suggested change into your mindset, I might be more successful.

But remember, you love the place/situation you are in. So, generally speaking, regardless of my skills of persuasion, you probably aren't that interested. After all what you have now is pretty great. And why should you change anything, because you are completely satisfied and comfortable in the current setting.

Welcome to the power of the comfort zone.

When we are happy and comfortable where we are, why would we go anywhere else?

This simple little example is at the root of much of the challenge relating to any change effort - whether you're trying to change a behavior, habit or thought pattern of your own, or are trying to make a change that affects others.

Realizing the critical role comfort zone plays in the thinking related to change efforts allows us to talk about some of the key elements of comfort zone and how to use them to stimulate change.

The pull of the comfort zone is strong. In the quick mental exercise we started with you can see and feel the pull of the comfort zone. At some level, stability and comfort matter to everyone. We like the known. It reduces mental and physical risk; so, we must have strong reasons to overcome this pull. "Just because" or "because it is good for the business" typically won't be strong enough.

Everyone is different. Risk tolerances change. Happiness with the status quo differs. Every person has different preferences, which means that while the comfort zone matters to each of us, we don't all become dissatisfied at the same rate or for the same reasons. Therefore, we aren't all as likely to break inertia and move (i.e. change) for the same reasons or at the same time.

Vision can overcome. Most everyone would be willing to and would even choose to change - even from very comfy places (mentally, physically and emotionally) - when the new situation is seen as even better. She loves her car until the newer model comes out that does automatic parking. He's happy with his favorite Italian restaurant until he hears people rave about the new Italian in town - including people who love his favorite too! It's about the faster iPhone, the bigger hard drive, the revised edition of the book; you get the idea. The fact is that when given a vision of something that seems better than what you have now - however much you like what you have - you begin to become dissatisfied and uncomfortable because of the comparison.

These three facts, when you really think about them, provide useful strategies to help you overcome your personal inertia. These facts also can help you use and acknowledge your team's, your family's, your colleagues, anyone's current comfort zones as a stepping stone to helping them create meaningful and valuable change.

Your comfort zone is the starting point of all change. The sooner you realize this, the more likely you are to be able to create the change you want and need.

Potential Pointer:  Reticence, disinterest and resistance to change all start from the power of the comfort zone. Since it starts with the comfort zone, to understand your own reaction to change, look at your comfort zone first. To help others see the value in any change, start there too.

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Kevin's Recommends

Five Great Books For Leaders

This time of year there are all types of lists. Please note: I'm not saying these are the five best leadership books of 2009. Rather these are five great books for leaders.

They aren't necessarily "leadership books." However, they all are books leaders will benefit from and be able to use in a variety of ways. They also are all books I've recommended this year.

If you are looking for a good read or a way to spend bookstore gift cards you receive this holiday season, any or all of these would be a great start!

The 100 Best Business Books of all Time

This book tries to do the impossible - select the very best business books of all time, plus it gives you rationale and a summary of the key points.

My Recommendation | Order a Copy

Be Yourself, Everyone Else is Already Taken

This book takes on the critical leadership attribute of authenticity head on.

My Recommendation | Order a Copy

Upbeat: Cultivating the Right Attitude to Thrive in Tough Times

The subtitle talks about tough times, but the book is valuable any time. And, it is hard to argue the importance of the right attitude for leaders.

My Recommendation | Order a Copy

Awesomely Simple

Six simple and profoundly important lessons; all told in an elegant way. It's one of my favorite new books this year.

My Recommendation | Order a Copy

Crush it! Why Now is the Time to Cash in on Your Passion

This book, while written from a entrepreneurial perspective, is important for leaders to high school kids. (But, don't tell my son; he's getting it for Christmas.)

My Recommendation | Order a Copy

There are lots of books on my shelf and in my next-to-read stack that might belong on this list; they aren't here because I haven't read and/or reviewed them yet. But there is always room for one recommendation each week - and I don't plan to stop any time soon!

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