How to Leave Your Comfort Zone?
BAs must step out of their comfort zone at any stage of their careers. The comfort zone should only be a pit stop rather than a destination. You need to be comfortable with feeling uncomfortable because when you are uncomfortable, you are learning. You need to be a lifelong learner because if you stop learning, you stop living.
Anyone who has heard me speak has heard me talk about this topic. Enough about what I say; how do you break out of your comfort zones? Here is a list of things that I did throughout my career.
Write a list of your fears, so you know what is holding you back.
Make a plan to tackle them but start slow to allow success.
Volunteer to work on a project in that you are not an expert. I learned so much when volunteering to help with a production issue on a system I had never used.
Get to know a co-worker you have not worked with before.
Step outside the box and look for process improvements and how to be innovative.
Step up as a leader and offer to handle things that are a stretch for you.
Talk with your manager about your career goals.
I could go on and on, but I’d like to hear from many of you. What has worked for you? The image attached to this blog from reddit.com succinctly depicts the comfort zone. Please don’t spend your entire career or life in your comfort zone. Take that first step out today. Until next time, please keep your glass half-full.