Oh Pants!

How often do you really put yourself out there? Take a risk? Step outside your comfort zone?

 

A lot of us are quite happy with doing what we always do and not really challenging ourselves, because one of the strongest emotions that drives us is fear…

 

You can think of your comfort zone as 3 circles each within each other…

 

The first, inner circle is your comfort zone, just outside that is your stretch zone and outside of that you have your panic zone.

 

'They say' that the fear of public speaking is a fear greater than death for most people, so'll I'll use that as an example…

 

Comfort Zone

When having a one to one conversation most of us are sat quite comfortably in the inner circle, being our comfort zone.

 

Stretch Zone

If we then have to lead a discussion in, say, a team meeting with a wider audience then for some, this pushes us slightly into the next circle being our stretch zone.

 

Panic Zone

And finally, if we're asked to get up on stage in front of 100 people most of us would go straight to the outer circle being our panic zone… Even if the subject is something we're really comfortable having a one to one conversation about.

 

I heard a great analogy from Nancie Shakleton (Assistant Chief Officer for Lincolnshire Police), that your comfort zone is like knicker elastic…. Once you stretch it, it never goes back to the exact same size…

 

So how and when will you step out of your comfort zone? And know that each time you do, your comfort zone will stretch and grow to be bigger and bigger… 


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