You Should Know: Embrace Discomfort
That’s the question Adam Grant poses in his latest book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things. In Hidden Potential, the organizational psychologist dismantles the pervasive myth that success stems from natural ability. Instead, using his signature mix of research and real-world stories, he shows that achievement is actually determined by how we develop our capabilities over time.
For Grant, it’s all about what he calls “The Character Skills Framework”, which is made up of the three fundamental abilities that drive growth.
Motivation - The drive to pursue goals despite obstacles
Determination - The grit to persist through setbacks and failures
Proactivity - The initiative to seek opportunities and create change
What makes these skills revolutionary, Grant argues, is that unlike raw talent, they can be learned and strengthened using a number of evidence-based strategies. These include embracing discomfort, learning from failure, breaking complex skills into smaller components (he calls this “scaffolding”), focusing on systems over goals, and creating opportunity.
At 100 Coaches, we particularly resonated with the importance of embracing discomfort. As an executive coaching company catering to high-impact leaders, we know full well that the leaders who are able to confront difficulties are the ones who best thrive long-term. That’s exactly what Grant has seen. Since growth happens outside comfort zones, he argues that the most successful people actively seek challenging situations that stretch their capabilities.
Language learning is a classic example. To learn a new language you must fail in public. As a result, the best language learners are often the ones who overcome their fear of making mistakes in front of others. And what about polyglots? Grant explains that people who speak many languages excel at embracing discomfort.
Improv comedy is another example. Psychologists Kaitlin Woolley and Ayelet Fishbach studied hundreds of people taking improv and randomly assigned them to focus on different goals. The ones who persisted the longest and took the most creative risks weren't the ones who were encouraged to focus on learning. They were the ones who had been advised to intentionally pursue discomfort. "Your goal is to feel awkward and uncomfortable … it's a sign the exercise is working," the instructions said. The ones who succeeded took that to heart.
Grant’s book, which draws on the wisdom of many great thinkers (including Amy Edmonson, who we featured in our July newsletter), is a great reminder that life isn’t fixed. As Grant says, “People who make major strides are rarely freaks of nature. They’re usually freaks of nurture.”
And what’s one of the best ways to nurture leadership greatness?
A great executive coach.
“Becoming a creature of discomfort can unlock hidden potential in many different types of learning. Summoning the nerve to face discomfort is a character skill—an especially important form of determination. It takes three kinds of courage: to abandon your tried-and-true methods, to put yourself in the ring before you feel ready, and to make more mistakes than others make attempts. The best way to accelerate growth is to embrace, seek, and amplify discomfort.”
― Adam M. Grant, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things
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Until next time,
The 100 Coaches Team
P.S. Go here to download our latest guide, When Coaching Matters Most: 3 Things Every HR Leader Needs to Know to Ensure Executive Coaching Success.
100 Coaches (c) Reference
Sources:
“Summary: Hidden Potential by Adam Grant” – Toby Sinclair, January 8 2024 (updated July 16 2024)
“How to Unlock the Talent in Yourself and Others” – Jill Suttie, Greater Good Magazine, October 23 2023
The Coaches 100 Newsletter shares the leadership wisdom of 100 Coaches Agency, the industry leader in bespoke executive coaching. To discuss your needs, call 212-877-4277 or visit www.100coaches.com.