Get Comfortable With Discomfort To Find Your Transformational Path Forward

Recent profound events around racial unrest have galvanized, inspired, and awakened you. You are convinced. There are tremendous advantages that come with transforming your organizational culture into an inclusive and equitable place. You’ve made a commitment to yourself, to your organization, and to your team. You feel excited and poised to begin. Then, suddenly, you feel an impulse to run away, or at least duck under your desk until things clear up. Questions arise:

Do I have what it takes to challenge the status quo in my organization? What if this puts too much strain on my leadership role? What if things feel confusing, awkward, overwhelming, or stressful along the way? What if this impacts my credibility, and likeability, as a leader? What if I stumble? If I mess this up, will I do more harm than good?

Amid a looming shadow of doubt, moving forward seems daunting. In reaction, you pick apart your commitment and convince yourself, unconsciously or otherwise, that the process is too hard and too risky. You think, “I may as well just give up.” Your doubt leads to avoidance as you shelve your good ideas and focus on other responsibilities. And yet, part of you knows the need for constructive change is now. If you avoid it, you know that you will again face this inner battle, soon enough . . .

You’re not alone

Sound familiar? The truth is that when facing important decisions and transitions we all go through some degree of internal discord. Psychologists call this cognitive dissonance, the experience of inner tension and discomfort when our minds are grappling with conflicting, contradictory ideas and beliefs. It can show up in personal settings and at work—especially in the face of changes we believe are necessary, worthy, and hugely beneficial in the long term–but, not easy. In diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, resistance often manifests as crippling self-doubt.

Resistance within the mind-set of leaders often hits hardest when they’re poised to take transformational steps forward. Their fear intensifies immediately before critical personal and professional development.

The good news is, resistance is not a bad thing. Allowing it to get in the way is what becomes a problem. Awareness is the key. By rising to the challenge, a determined leader can see the early signs of resistance and proactively set the wheels of change in motion for growth.