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Becoming Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
Posted on Jun 21, 2009
Ah, the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. Where else can you see someone dressed like an Italian statue stand absolutely still for hours while people place dollars at her feet? What a terribly uncomfortable job!
One of things I stressed in my keynote at the Better Software Conference was the importance of agile team leaders learning how to become comfortable with being uncomfortable. It sounds like an oxymoron, but the simplicity of this simple phrase was a guiding notion in my development as an agile coach.
Some have this crazy idea that if you are doing the job right, and if you know what you are doing, then it will be easy and there will be no discomfort. Balderdash. It’s rarely comfortable for anyone to speak in front of large crowds, deliver bad news, facilitate a dysfunctional team, or mediate a difficult dispute. Yet many of us do this work with confidence, making it appear as if we are feeling quite comfortable. This does not mean that we are, nor does it mean that it’s easy. It’s hard work; but speaking personally, my discomfort helps me to stay alert and focused.
At the end of my keynote there was a wonderful teaching moment where everyone got to observe what I meant. When I went into the audience and asked if anyone would like to share their agile stories, I was met with silence. As I stood and smiled, waiting, while everyone stared at me, the silence stretched out. Everyone was becoming uncomfortable. But I knew someone would eventually say something – someone always does – and lo and behold, there was a volunteer in the back. His sharing opened the floodgates, and soon hands were up around the room.
So experiment with the art of becoming comfortable with being uncomfortable. Put yourself in some uncomfortable, but safe, situations and see what happens. The more things turn out fine, the more comfortable you’ll be with your discomfort. And share your stories here!
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