Are You Comfortable?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Laura Jones
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I recently attended the Intermediate Executive Skills course. Arriving early on opening day, I scanned the room for a chair, sauntered down the aisle and unpacked the necessities ... paper and pen, check; sweater for room temperature fluctuations, check; grande nonfat skinny latté, extra shot of espresso, check. 

I scanned the program line up and the usual suspects were all in place. After the initial introductions, we started with Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Lambing, Chief Medical Enlisted Force. He presented his outline and said, "I want you to arrive comfortable but leave uncomfortable."
 
I thought, uncomfortable, who wants to be uncomfortable? Do we not go out of our way to be just the opposite? Do we not seek situations or positions where we are specialized or where we know many of the answers? Who would choose to be uncomfortable? As I repositioned in my chair and picked up my pen I began to reflect and examine how I was performing in my job; how did I get here? I was beginning to feel a bit uneasy. When I find myself in an uncomfortable period or situation, I tend to explore for sources of inspiration or words to guide me and sometimes it's back to childhood. Dr. Seuss' writings may seem be effortless but there is a significance I can apply even as an adult and one of my favorites is "Oh the Places You Will Go".

As the chief concluded, I will be honest; my mind was a rapid fire of questions. Was I a good leader? Was I providing the direction needed? Was I engaged enough? Did I take the time to have meaning full conversations? Do they trust me? Do I make good decisions...O-M-G...Do I even know what I am doing? I pondered these questions and many more which arose over the course of the week, not just the words of the chief, but those of the leaders and mentors who shared their knowledge and wisdom. I was becoming increasingly uncomfortable. I remembered the phrase, "You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose." I pulled out my notepad and started to develop a plan and set personal and team priorities.

So this is the time to challenge yourself to be uncomfortable, look for opportunities to move outside of your comfort zone, to guide your Airmen to the next level. "Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. Oh! The places you'll go." Now is not the time to be stagnant, to be stuck in the waiting room and expecting somebody else to take the first plunge. "Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way!"