Research
Comfort to Growth
Research links
There is much research highlighting the benefits of stepping out of our comfort zone which include: accelerated career progression, increased personal confidence, enhanced leadership skills and impact.
​
1. Accelerated Career Progression: Research has shown that stepping out of your professional comfort zone can lead to significant personal and career growth. By tackling new challenges, you acquire new skills, enhance your expertise, and position yourself for advancement. Individuals who actively seek and embrace new professional challenges tend to progress more rapidly in their careers. Demonstrating your ability to handle diverse tasks and responsibilities can lead to promotions and leadership opportunities.
​
References: Reiter-Palmon, R., & Illies, J. J. (2004). Leadership and creativity: Understanding leadership from a creative problem-solving perspective. The Leadership Quarterly, 15(1) and Ng, T. W., & Feldman, D. C. (2008). The relationship of age to ten dimensions of job performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(2).
​
2. Increased Personal Confidence: Successfully navigating new professional challenges boosts self-assurance and self-esteem. Each triumph reinforces the belief that you are capable of tackling more complex tasks, leading to greater confidence in your abilities. This newfound confidence can positively impact your interactions with colleagues, stakeholders, and superiors.
​
References: Anderson, C., & Galinsky, A. D. (2006). Power, optimism, and risk-taking. European Journal of Social Psychology, 36(4) and Bandura, A. (1997). Self-efficacy: The exercise of control
​
3. Enhanced Leadership Skills and Impact: Successfully navigating new challenges cultivates leadership qualities such as adaptability, decisiveness, and resilience. These skills are invaluable for taking on leadership roles. Thriving in today's dynamic work environment requires adaptability. Embracing new challenges hones your ability to think critically and creatively when faced with complex situations. This translates into more effective and innovative problem-solving in various professional contexts. Venturing into uncharted territory exposes you to diverse situations, fostering the flexibility needed to navigate changes and uncertainties.
​
References: Maddux, W. W., & Galinsky, A. D. (2009). Cultural borders and mental barriers: The relationship between living abroad and creativity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 96(5) and Sternberg, R. J. (2003). Wisdom, intelligence, and creativity synthesized.
June 2023
May 2023
This month, we’d like to invite you to consider your role as a Spotlight Director for staff within school, too: how often, and in what proportion, do you direct light on colleagues’ talents and challenges...
​
April 2023
The Time You Enjoy Wasting
And so we arrive at the Easter break. Two weeks to decompress. Perhaps you have plans for family get-togethers and religious celebrations. Days are warmer and longer and ripe for the taking...
​
March 2023
Make Do and Mend
Ever feel like you’re scrabbling around for scraps of cloth to cover the needs of the school? You are not alone. We have been speaking with lots of leaders in schools who feel this way...
​
February 2023
Ain't Got No Money
As members of the largest UK teachers’ union strike to protest against a chronic shortage of funding and a national recruitment and retention crisis, let us reflect this month on one of the most challenging aspects of school leadership, at all levels: managing budgets...
​
January 2023
Behind The Mask
As we return to school, this common question will most often lead to a quick civil exchange, “Yes, thanks. You?” And we will go on our way. But couldn’t this be an opportunity for something better, more engaging than a simple courtesy?
​
November 2022
Every Leader is Telling a Story
In the words of Walt Disney, “Every leader is telling a story… about what he or she values.” What will people read into you? More importantly, what is at the core of the story you want to tell?
​
October 2022
It's a Marathon not a Sprint
We all know mental health is a priority, and schools are being asked to assign a Mental Health Lead by 2025. Whilst the focus of this role is largely to provide our children and young people...
​
September 2022
Begin with the End in Mind
Political ideology aside, I hope you can take inspiration from her Majesty’s example of servant leadership, and check-in with the end you have in mind for 2022-2023, so you can start this academic year with confidence and a clear sense of purpose...
​
July 2022
Passing on the Baton
As the Commonwealth games get underway in Birmingham, at Leadership Edge, I too am passing on the baton. Maybe there are readers amongst you who also will also be passing on the baton at the end of this term - and maybe taking hold of a new one...
​