There are things at work that make us want to hide under our desks. Perhaps you’d rather swallow nails than make small talk with strangers at a networking event. Or maybe the idea of speaking in public makes you break into a cold sweat. But the reality is that even if you find these tasks unpleasant, they’re necessary to growing in your career. You have to get out of your comfort zone, so start with small steps. Instead of giving a talk at an industry event, sign up for a public speech class. Instead of speaking up in the boardroom in front of your senior colleagues, start by doing it in smaller meetings with peers to see how it feels. You may stumble, but that’s OK. In fact, it’s the only way you’ll learn, especially if you can appreciate that missteps are an inevitable — and in fact essential — part of the learning process.
Adapted from "If You're Not Outside Your Comfort Zone, You Won't Learn Anything," by Andy Molinsky
