“We are at our most alert when we are in danger of failing.  The greatest growth comes from being alert, scared, and striving.” – Dan Sullivan

We’ve spent the past couple of weeks (here and here, in case you missed it) in this space having a conversation about passion and energy and finding your own path as a leader.  There are very few things that are a better leading indicator of success than passion for what you’re doing.

That being said, just because we’re passionate doesn’t mean we can’t fail.  You can be really excited about something and not be very good at it.  You can be energized by some type of work and do it poorly.

That potential for failure doesn’t mean you’re on the wrong path.  It just means there are things you still need – new capabilities, new beliefs, new behaviors, new whatever.  And you have to go find those new things that you need.  They won’t just come to you.

The better way to say that is to say that we as leaders need to seek out opportunities to fail.  That may sound counterintuitive, and it definitely sounds scary.  But it’s the truth.  Absolutely no growth happens when we’re in our comfort zones, and we need to grow.  So, go get uncomfortable.

That doesn’t mean just randomly doing things you don’t know how to do, or just finding scary situations to put yourself in.  It means understanding where you need to grow, and then seeking opportunities to make that growth happen.

If speaking in front of groups is a skill you need, then go find a group that needs a speaker.  If you need to better understand technology, enroll in a class in a local school or college, even if you’re “not that age anymore”.  If strategic thinking is an area in which you need to improve, then set aside a couple of hours on your calendar and practice.

All of those things might make you uncomfortable.  There’s a chance you could fail or look silly in front of other people.  People might think you’re crazy, or that you don’t know what you’re doing.

So be it.  You’re a leader.  Seeking discomfort needs to be a standard part of what you do on a daily basis.  Don’t hide from it.  Embrace it.  It’s the only way to grow.