You know the feeling? You’re doing your job, no one is picking on you, you know every process inside and out. It’s safe. But in a world that is speeding at 100 km/h, standing still is not something safe. It’s going backwards.
If you haven’t learned anything new in a year, there’s a good chance it’s a bill you’ll have to pay later.
The comfort zone is a psychological state in which we feel comfortable because nothing surprises us.
Sounds like a plan for the perfect life? Unfortunately, in a career it’s a trap.
The brutal truth is: your value in the job market only increases if you do things you don’t yet know how to do. The key is to constantly develop yourself.
What do you lose by always choosing what you already know?
- Money – statistics are inexorable – people who regularly upgrade their competencies and are not afraid of change earn on average 20-30% more than those who stick to one role for a decade without development.
- Crisis resilience – when a wave of layoffs or automation comes, the first under the radar are those who are easily replaced.
- Confidence – discomfort at learning new things builds the ability to move from intention to action. Without this, any change in your company creates paralyzing fear instead of excitement.
How do you get out of your comfort zone?
You don’t have to change industries right away. Small steps are enough to make your confidence soar and make you feel better about yourself:
- Get used to the discomfort: do one thing differently each week. A new program, a different method of communication, volunteering for a project you’ve been dreading.
- Be a perpetual student: don’t wait for the company to send you for training. Ask for it yourself. Development is your strongest bargaining chip.
- Check your market “price”: An interview with a headhunter is not a betrayal of your current employer – it’s an audit of your skills. You’ll find out what the market is looking for and what you need to make up.
What does the science say about this?
Neuroplasticity of the brain: neuroscience research (including Dr. Michael Merzenich) confirms that a brain that is not exposed to new stimuli and challenges decreases our cognitive abilities and creativity as we age.
Learning Curve: Educational psychology indicates that the fastest growth in competence occurs in the so-called Zone of Proximal Development – that is, just beyond what we already know. Staying in something we know stops the production of dopamine associated with achievement.
World Economic Forum report (Future of Jobs): Up to 44% of workers’ core skills will change by 2027. Those remaining in their comfort zone are becoming less attractive to employers faster than ever before in history.
How can we help you?
At our company, we believe that development is a team sport. Therefore:
- For the ambitious
We provide training that is not a boring lecture, but a real “dig” out of the comfort zone into new skills (those that the market wants to pay for). - For those looking for a change
As headhunters, we look for people every day who have the courage to say, “I want to do more.” If you feel that your current ceiling is a floor for someone else – get back to us.
If you want to improve your qualifications and develop your skills check out our training courses and choose something for you. From negotiation and body language where you learn how to negotiate better terms and conditions of your employment, achieve better sales deals, to time management where you will learn to set priorities and goals.
We also invite you to visit our Facebook and LinkedIn where we also post valuable content and more interesting facts about the human mind!