Without a home

“leaders live in their adventure zone”

In life there are three zones in which one can exist. The comfort zone, the adventure zone and the panic zone. Most of us exist in the comfort zone - its easy, simple and we know it well. Sometimes if we are in the mood we venture out and test the adventure zone - this means stepping out of your comfort zone and exploring a space in which you’re not familiar with. Lastly, the panic zone is a space that from time to time we get hurled into. It makes us feel really uncomfortable and we cant wait to run away from it. 

I recently facilitated at a conference in Prague where Tim “Mac” Macartney was invited back to address the participants of the characteristics of a good leader. Mac believes that if you want to be a good leader you will need to live in the adventure zone.

For each one of us our comfort zone is different. Some of us remain silent in a debate because we are too afraid to reveal what we do and do not know. Others may find that their comfort zone is to always talk - they mask their true thoughts and perhaps feelings. No matter what your comfort zone is you run the risk of allowing it to contract if you do not step out into your adventure zone. Those who talk a lot do not allow themselves to listen and thus become even more comfortable listening to the sound of their own voice. Those who are quiet remain quiet and get classifies by those around them as the quiet one making it even harder to break through into the adventure zone. In both cases your comfort zone contracts and it becomes harder to enter into the adventure zone. 

However, if you make a habit of living your life in the adventure zone, you can resist the contraction of your comfort zone. Once you step into your adventure zone and you become comfortable therein, you grow your own comfort zone thus something that may have been challenging before becomes slightly easier. In essence, living in your adventure zone will continuously grow your comfort zone. This is to say that you are perhaps not necessarily comfortable about everything but you become comfortable in your own resourcefulness to enable you to go into new situations everyday. 

I’m not necessarily a leader - I’m on a journey seeking to live in the adventure zone. The reality of living in your adventure zone isn’t easy. So many times my position is challenged in a conversation and I get emotional and am unable to respond. This is definitely my panic zone and life hurls me into it as it pleases. But I know that slowly recognising this and growing both my comfort and adventure zones will allow me to tackle this panic zone sooner rather than later. 

What is your comfort zone, adventure zone and panic zone? What does it mean to you?How willing would u be to talk about your weaknesses? Knowing both your limitations and fears can be of benefit to you - if you face them you can use them as a resource in your life.