I Never Knew I Had A Choice: Decide to Stretch Yourself

Without even realizing it, we put ourselves in a circle. This circle is where we live, we play, we do business. It’s called Comfort Zone. What would happen if we decided to go outside of that circle? (We’re not referring to anything that goes against your moral compass). If you knew going outside of the circle would lead you to something more fulfilling and extraordinary, would you?

That was the goal of ActionCOACH MetroNorth when we were invited by the Elk River Chamber Leadership Group to lead their first of nine sessions they will be hosting over the course of nine months.

All growth involves some level of discomfort. The bad news? You’ll be uncomfortable. The good news…the discomfort is short-lived. The good news…the growth is forever. Sounds like your good outweighs the bad.

During our full day with 26 leaders, we pinpointed our strengths using the StrengthsFinder Assessment. We paired up to put ourselves in a scenario involving a Sales Manager/Salesperson role to understand perception. We had to use teamwork to assemble squares. We even took a trip to Gilligan’s Island to communicate, well, communication.

The one activity that may have gotten the most shock and awe?was to text someone important in our lives: spouse, child, sister, brother, parent, friend. The question to ask them? “What can I do to be a better {wife, husband, mom, dad, child, friend}?”

Why don’t we ask that question more? 1. It’s uncomfortable 2. We don’t want to hear the answer

You think it’s uncomfortable to ask? Ask this question face to face and watch them become uncomfortable that you asked AND they have to answer!

Realize you’re not only stretching yourself, you are now stretching someone else.

While some may run back to their circle of security, we also discovered our circles aren’t always surrounded by positive influences.

In closing, based on the teaching of one of our mentors, Marshall Goldsmith, ask yourself daily accountability questions that only you can answer and are not dependent on your company, your friends, your coworkers, your family.

  1. Did I do my best to set clear goals?

  2. Did I do my best to make progress towards achieving my goals?

  3. Did I do my best to build positive relationships?

  4. Did I do my best to increase my happiness?

  5. Did I do my best to find meaning?

  6. Did I do my best to be engaged?