To get the best results, make sure you are in the right zone

AS the cliché goes, the only constant in life is change. Every day, we encounter many changes at the workplace — the arrival of new colleagues, departure of old ones, new bosses, heavier workload, changed job scope. And it goes on.

In response to these changes, we may shuttle back and forth between different zones. I am not referring to physical areas, but what can be called the Dead Zone, Panic Zone, Comfort Zone and Stretch Zone. Is there a zone you should aspire to be in at all times?

Dead Zone

If there is one place you should avoid, it is the Dead Zone. People in this zone are rarely interested in improving themselves. They have no initiative at all. They stay the same year in and year out.

Sounds familiar? If you are resigned to things as they are, have no interest in the future, never set any career goals and have no vision, you are in the Dead Zone.

If you truly want things to improve, you have to move out of this zone.

Panic Zone

Many people move into the Panic Zone in reaction to changes. For example, they panic when they see their business going downhill and are “being forced” to compensate by doing aggressive marketing. The good thing about the Panic Zone is that it wakes people up.

However, the problem with the Panic Zone is that people in it are under stress and do not perform well. Hence, their judgment is impaired. The result? Burnout. Indecisiveness. People here do not feel competent to handle what is before them. In extreme cases, some sink into depression or they go back to Dead Zone.

Avoid this by making good use of your wake-up call to get the advice you need.

Comfort Zone

Here, people want to be effective. They have been successful in the past and want to be the same in the future. Therefore, they do the same things as before.

This zone is very seductive because it is so natural. We all want a comfortable life, otherwise why do we work so hard? People here tend to reproduce what made them successful in the past.

In the workplace, we often come across colleagues who refuse to take on new roles and responsibilities.

Unfortunately, the world does not stand still. Some people in the Comfort Zone try to change, but instead of changing, they merely fine-tune their response to change.

This is where professional advice is necessary to pull these people out of their Comfort Zone and guide them into...

The Stretch Zone

This zone is a good place to live and work. People in the Stretch Zone are actively involved in their work and are committed to developing themselves.

For instance, they challenge themselves to finish a book once every two weeks. They are always on the lookout for enrichment courses. They seek the advice of a career coach if required.

People in this zone do not feel threatened by change. They see it as an opportunity. They understand that they have blind spots and they must be receptive to feedback all the time.

Most people learn best in the Stretch Zone. That is why I commit to coaching individuals and businesses every day, because I know that the Stretch Zone is an area of potential — there is always room for improvement.