The other day, it was pointed out to me that we Americans like to be comfortable. It may seem like I’m stating the obvious here since no one likes to be uncomfortable. And maybe I am, but hear me out on this one.
Do you know what the number one selling chair is in America? It’s La-Z-Boy. But it’s not just the chairs we choose to sit in. Comfort has become a critical part of our everyday life. Think about the clothes we wear. We’re looking for comfort and, therefore, sweatpants have found a place in almost every person’s wardrobe. With their elastic waistbands they are the perfect thing to wear when you’re laying back in your La-Z-Boy. And we even have words that describe our sweatpants-wearing, La-Z-Boy-lounging selves — couch potatoes. Try to tell me that comfort isn’t important to us?
So what’s wrong with comfort? Like I said, no one likes to be uncomfortable. Here’s my fear: With comfort comes complacency. “Comfort zones are plush lined coffins. When you stay in your plush lined coffins, you die.” How true is that quote from Stan Dale?
You need to move out of your comfort zone if you want to move forward. Maybe you’ve seen the CBS show Undercover Boss. Here’s how the network describes the premise of the show:
“Each week, Undercover Boss follows a different executive as they leave the COMFORT of their corner office for an undercover mission to examine the inner workings of their companies. While working alongside their employees, they see the effects that their decisions have on others, where the problems lie within their organizations and get an up-close look at both the good and the bad while discovering the unsung heroes who make their companies run.”
OK, I added the emphasis to the word “comfort,” but I didn’t add the word. The show is based on taking CEOs out of their comfort zones where their eyes are opened to what’s really going on in their companies. Why shouldn’t we all give that a try? What do we have to lose?
Get out from behind your desk and take a walk. Talk to someone in the office you’ve never spoken to before. Spend a day working on the manufacturing line. Go visit a key vendor at THEIR place of work or go to where your customers are and just observe. It’s less important what you choose, just get out there and get engaged.
Move out of your comfort zone!
So what if it makes you sweat a little bit? Maybe it makes you uncomfortable to slip on a pair of work boots and work-side-by side with someone on the line. That’s the whole point. It’s OK to be uncomfortable. In fact, it’s a good thing to be uncomfortable.
Billy Graham once said, “Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.” I’m not sure that talking to employees, vendors, or customers can be considered “adversity,” but I’m convinced that taking the time to do so will benefit you and your organization. Try it today.