Recently, I had the opportunity to have an engaging conversation with my friend and colleague, Lyssa deHart, LICSW, MCC, BCC, about what we’ve learned through our years of working in challenging, complicated systems. We are both social workers by training, and we both started our careers working in the incredibly complex child welfare system. Lyssa worked directly with children experiencing neglect and abuse and their families struggling to make the changes necessary to provide a loving and stable environment to keep their family together, and I worked with the state department and legislature to make reforms necessary to best support children and families, which most often focused on the prevention of abuse and neglect. Drawing on our early career experiences, we have dedicated our work to partnering with individuals who lead and work within all kinds of elaborate systems and with individual advocates and activist groups that are working to change or reform them. What we discovered through our conversation is that for individuals desiring to make change, which includes leaders in the business and corporate worlds, there is an interesting intersection where risk and leadership merge, where growth and courage develop, and where transformation occurs.
For individuals who want to make any kind of change, but especially big, systemic and cultural change, stepping outside our comfort zones is necessary to have effective and positive impact. The experiences that Lyssa and I have had underscore a fundamental truth, which is growth rarely occurs within the confines of familiarity. It’s in those moments of discomfort, when we confront our fears and uncertainties head-on, that we unearth our true potential and discover new possibilities.
Nothing transforms without first being disrupted. This is true for systems, but it is also true for individuals.
Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather the willingness to act in spite of it. It’s about embracing the unknown, venturing into uncharted territory, and trusting in our ability to navigate the journey ahead.
And courage alone isn’t enough. It’s crucial to understand the inherent risks involved in taking action and to approach situations with a strategic mindset. It’s about acknowledging the potential pitfalls while remaining steadfast in our commitment to our values, growth, and progress.
Indeed, the path to personal and professional development is paved with discomfort. It’s in the moments of uncertainty, when we feel most vulnerable, that we have the opportunity to expand our capabilities, deepen our resilience, and unlock new dimensions of self-awareness.
If you want to personally grow and develop, and you want to make a positive impact at a bigger level, we encourage you to reframe your personal relationship with discomfort. It’s not an obstacle to be avoided, but rather a catalyst for transformation.
We would love for you to take a moment to share with us a time where you took courageous action, and it led to a positive change or progress. What did you learn as a result?