A phrase that’s stayed with me ever since I heard it first via a Entrepreneurial Scotland a few years ago - Comfortable being Uncomfortable. Over time however, I’ve found comfort in the statement itself - a flexible sentiment to lean into when confronting difficult change, uncertain times, grasping the thistle, or resisting the obvious when your brain is screaming to do otherwise!

Here are some scenarios where this phrase is most important to me. Difficult things but vital and yet I'm encouraged to take the chance of being uncomfortable so a situation can progress, improve and all involved can develop.

Do I get always get it right?

Of course not, I’m as fallible as anyone else but it’s important to be on the front foot, weigh up the options, confront things and do it anyway.

Difficult conversations - I’ve been a manager of sorts for nearly 20 years now but I never truly felt like one until I had to have my first ‘difficult conversation’ with a team-member. I felt sick, I didn’t sleep and couldn’t think straight but over the years I’ve learnt to embrace them as essential to progress and building relationships. As long as the reasons are clear, everyone involved has the chance come away with clarity and renewed sense of purpose. ‘Difficult now’, is better than ‘impossible later’.

Stick or Twist? - Delivery on a strategy is tough. The more ambitious aspects can be difficult to plan let alone deliver well, so when do you pivot and when do you keep going? Knowing the difference between something that is a misstep vs something that just needs more focus or time is a skill in itself. It’s uncomfortable admitting something in your strategy is not working and you will only be comfortable once you confront it and begin to see what the answer could be? Do you know the signals of when you should stick or twist?

Closing doors - Very much related to my previous point, good strategy should feel like you are closing doors - sorry, a quote courtesy of Leo McGarry of The West Wing (but that doesn’t make it any less true). This is about letting go of your biases and looking at a situation for what it is and if it’s time to call time on it, do it. Have a clear idea of what good looks like, and be honest with yourself and those around you when it’s time to make an uncomfortable decision and say no.

I Know Nothing - You can tell with my caveat above, this is my experience and it works for me - but in reality I feel like I am constantly learning. At the ripe age of fift*cough* cough*, learning new stuff every day - about me, colleagues, clients, industry, my kids - keeps me on my toes and is one of the reasons I love what I do. Admitting that you have gaps in your knowledge and abilities can be difficult but less so than the alternative - imagine thinking you know it all? Eek. In general, people know when you are winging it - even if they don’t say so. It really is better to be comfortable saying I’ don’t know but I’ll find out’.

Anyway, a small sample of how comfortable being uncomfortable has helped me, my role and my business over the years. There is much more I could be doing and I still find myself procrastinating on difficult choices or conversations - but I’ve improved over the years and I see the fruits of that now. Concerned about confronting a difficult situation?

Grab the thistle and do it anyway.

— Mark

I’d love to hear your uncomfortable/comfortable stories too. Comment, email or arrange for a coffee soon.

mark@fortytwo.studio.

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*Photo by SMG SMG on Unsplash