Take Flight

Take Flight

Why does the thrill of soaring have to begin with the fear of falling?

It’s a question I came across in a recent devotional, but one I think keeps so many of us stuck in ruts. Perhaps not the question itself, but the fear behind it.

In coaching, we often hear a version of the question: “What is my next step?” It shows up in different ways – sometimes in relationships, sometimes in family, but most often in our discussions in career. And it usually comes from a place of honest uncertainty, which fuels the need for either validation or direction.

I distinguish between two types of people when it comes to this question:

1. The person who accepts—or is at least willing to accept—that fear is the gateway to progress and change. They recognise that “learning to fly” requires courage, because not making it is a very real possibility. But so is the opportunity to succeed, to grow, and to take flight.

2. The “Ja, maar” client. These are the ones who always have a but in their response. That but keeps them away from action under the guise of control. But in reality, it’s fear. They’re either not ready to step out of their comfort zone or not willing to. And that’s a key distinction: readiness and willingness.

• Readiness is something we can usually work on – it’s about understanding and acceptance. If you know how to take the next step, there is room to move.
• Willingness… that’s a different story.

So how do you prepare yourself to take flight?

• Spend time articulating why taking flight actually matters to you.
• Write down all the reasons your comfort zone isn’t as comfortable as it seems.
• Highlight the value of progress rather than the outcome. Ask yourself: How can I tangibly measure progress?
• Tell only a select few people – those you trust to keep you accountable and moving forward. Not everyone needs to know. Remember: most people aren’t rooting against you, but you’re also not at the centre of their world, and that’s okay.
• Ask for help. And be mature enough to accept that some may say no. And that’s okay too.

In the wild, bison instinctively run towards an oncoming storm, not away from it. Which storms are you running from out of fear?

And remember: going from 0 to 1 is the hardest part.

If you are having a difficult time getting out of your comfort zone, get in touch. You can reach us at info@purposeworks.co.za.

At PurposeWorks we are all about Making You and Your Work Rock. Our focus is on Organisational Health and Design, Employee Centered Culture, Leadership Development and Performance Coaching. For more information on how we can help you create a work environment that rocks, develop a great team, become an inspiring leader or unlock your personal excellence talk to us at info@purposeworks.co.za.