Be comfortable with being uncomfortable. It’s not so much a goal as it is a resolution I set for myself at the beginning of the year. Arriving at this resolution required considerable thought, reflection and experience drawn from my both personal and professional life. Next to many of the others I set for myself, this is probably one of the most challenging resolutions to date and one that requires continuous learning and introspection overtime.

As a marketing and project management professional, I encounter change on a daily basis. Some of these changes are considered minor in that one might deviate from a set standard and it only affects you and perhaps another team member’s workflow. Others might be more impactful in that a change issued by the client may affect the overall scope, time and costs associated with an overall campaign. Whether the impact can be categorized as small or large, it ultimately affects the people involved within the project and causes them to shift the way they think and the way they approach the situation.

Change requires change.

Throughout my career, I’ve encountered two types of people: one with a Fixed Mindset and the other with an Agile Mindset. Those with a fixed mindset tend to believe their work is predetermined and that there is a set standard to achieve end results. Since these requirements are determined from the start, they rely heavily on process and historical data to accomplish their goals and responsibilities. They stick with what they are comfortable with, avoid change, and choose not to learn. They are task managers who stay on point for schedules and costs regardless if there is a better way to realize their end goals. On the flipside, there are those with a more agile mindset. These folks tend to believe their work can be continuously developed, that there is room for improvement and the outcome can be derived in various shapes and forms. Those with this type of growth mindset refrain from the “One size fits all” mentality and instead approach their job with a more tailored solution. They believe in continuous learning and embrace challenges because they bring new learnings.

Fixed&Growth_Mindset

Source: Reed, Patricia. “Agile Management Principles & Practices.” UC Berkeley Extension X486.1. Fall 2013. Lecture 1. September 28, 2013.

What is your experience encountering those with a fixed versus agile mindset in the workplace? Is there a different way you communicate with one versus the other? Which type of mindset do you associate yourself with?

At one point I did consider myself having a fixed mindset and found difficulties accepting change. However, as a project manager, I encountered varying degrees of change almost on a daily basis. There was no room to maintain a rigid mindset when working with so many different types of people. It was during that time period where I experienced a shift in paradigm, realizing the need to be more flexible, adaptable, and agile. Oftentimes, I continue to catch myself embracing routine and while it does reinforce some healthy habits, I need to break away from these tendencies and challenge myself in learning to welcome uncertainty. This uncertainty doesn’t come easily and involves some level of discomfort, but there are ways to prepare yourself on how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Here are some ways you can shake your normal routine:

Wear your watch on the opposite wrist. Try this right now. Unbuckle that strap from your time piece and strap it on to the opposite wrist. It’s a different sensation, isn’t it? It’s like wearing your shoe on the opposite foot. It’s blatantly noticeable and obtusely distracting. Try this for five minutes, then ten minutes, then an hour or two, and possibly a day. You’ll have a new appreciation for coping with the uncomfortable as minute as this deed may sound.

Take a different route home. Be adventurous and get off of the J Line that sends you a block or two from your home. Have you considered transportation outside of Muni or Bart? What about AC Transit, carpool, or even walking, jogging or biking (perhaps if you do not live on the other side of the bridge)? Try it and you might have a new appreciation for getting acquainted with a different neighborhood, discovering local restaurants and shops, enjoying the scenery and making new friends.

Adopt a healthy habit. Sleep a half hour earlier and wake up an hour earlier; substitute freshly squeezed juice for coffee; garnish your water with strawberries, raspberries, or a sprig of mint; take the stairs over the elevator at work; operate at a stand-up workstation over a sit-down desk setting; walk around the block before and after lunch. These are just a few healthy habits that can influence your day as well as your spiritual and mental well-being. It’s almost like getting your daily dose of vitamins without the supplements.

So now that you might be willing to break through some of these habits, what does it do for you?

Invite change rather than let it offset your day. For some reason, people associate the idea of change with dragging along a fifty pound barbell. It’s heavy on our shoulders and requires a significant alteration in how we do things. While we might face some life changing measures, the changes I am referring to are more day to day, and not quite as monumental. They require a shift in mindset and adjustments – little adjustments along the way. You might need to rethink how to approach that conversation with your team member, the way you respond to that wayward email, and how to juggle those sideway requests. Don’t let these minor nuances derail you for the rest of the day. Step up to the plate and find another solution.

Learn to change gears more fluidly. When Plan A doesn’t work, you should move on to Plan B. When Plan B doesn’t work, what are your options? Those with a more agile mindset tend to have some other tricks up their sleeves and those with a more rigid mindset, well, it’s not always easy. Being well equipped to handle situations with ease, flexibility and tact will help you attain a result that’s more pleasurable and appealing, and if for some reason it doesn’t, you can move on to other options.

Be more flexible and adaptable to situations without it getting under your skin. Oftentimes a little bit of change comes with some discomfort. When the temperature of your coffee is not quite right, your seat is not adjusted to the exact height, items on your desk have shifted, and you pressed “7” on your voicemail to delete a message than to save it, it’s understandable that these minor offenses can get under your skin. Well, you’ve probably heard the saying, “Shit happens.” It’s learning to overcome these situations and move on, rather than dwell that will help you stay focused on the more important things. And the next time you experience these instances – and you will – you’ll be better positioned to keep your head up since you were able to the last time around.

Breaking these routine habits gives you the opportunity to embrace change, adjust the way you think, become more open-minded and thus invite a healthy dose of creativity. These are just some of the aftereffects I hope to achieve. As I continue to live and breathe this resolution, I need to constantly interrupt my workflow, step aside, and ask myself, what am I doing today to be comfortable with being uncomfortable? It’s this ribbon around my finger that enables me to stimulate the brain and make room for a more adaptive lifestyle. I am currently looking for ways to challenge myself in various shapes and forms. Enlighten me with what you are doing to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.