My Career Advice for 2020: Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable!

As a leader in recruitment who's an introvert and struggles with social anxiety, it's not uncommon to find myself in a situation where, if I'm being completely honest, I'd rather not be.

Many of these situations are usually a direct result of my career – networking, presenting, leading meetings – you name it. 

But over the years, I've realized that this very discomfort, and my ability to push through it, has allowed me to grow and advance professionally – even if I didn't realize it at the time.

That's why today, especially as we've just entered a new year, I tell my team to embrace discomfort; welcome the scenarios that make them nervous, because I believe it's these scenarios that will lead to growth, opportunity and longevity in their careers.

It did for me – here's how:

It took my career to new places.

I experienced a financially modest upbringing with four younger siblings, and I was determined from a young age to build a successful career and set a positive example for my brother and sisters.

To do that, I knew there would come a time when I would have to move out of my comfort zone. That time came seven years ago when I left Chicago – the city where I was born and raised (and had never left) – to take on an opportunity in Rhode Island. 

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. The thought of being 1,000 miles away from everything I knew made me petrified. But after reflecting on what it would mean for my career, I took the plunge.

Today, I can honestly say that it was the best decision I made for my career. It gave me the confidence I needed to get out of my shell, it helped me advance professionally, and it opened the door for future opportunities.

 It improved my networking skills.

Because I was working with a new team in Rhode Island, I really had no choice but to network. 

Reaching out and asking questions – even asking where I could find the best dry cleaner – was a huge source of discomfort for me. It was the same for the standard interactions that came with being a new leader like conferences, workshops and training.

But instead of avoiding it, I decided to embrace it. 

I felt the best way to do that was to challenge myself. So, in every social situation I pushed myself to speak to at least one person I didn't know; start up a conversation and make a new connection.

It would have been much easier to sit in the last row of the conference room or keep my head down in a workshop. But I knew how important it was to connect with my peers and partners – something that's heavily encouraged here at TD Bank.

It helped me rediscover my strengths.

What I found interesting about challenging myself was that it reminded me of the strengths my discomfort caused me to lose sight of. 

One strength, in particular, is relationship building. This is a core component of recruitment and something that attracted me to this space in the first place.

Despite being uncomfortable – sweating, turning red, the works! – I was always surprised at how I was still able to build rapport with the person I was speaking with and ironically, make them feel comfortable. 

I used to think it was as if my alter ego emerged, allowing my passion for recruitment to take the lead and enable me to do what I love: help someone find the right opportunity and, in some cases, change their life for the better.

It might sound strange but feeling uncomfortable is something I'm now comfortable embracing. There is one more thing that I think is important to remember though: you have to keep at it. 

It's easy to push through discomfort once or twice, but in my opinion, if you really want longevity and success in your career, you have to keep pushing through. It's my guess that what you'll accomplish by doing so, is worth feeling a little uncomfortable for anyway.

 Has getting comfortable with being uncomfortable led to growth in your career? Share in the comments below!