

Discover how stepping into the learning zone from the comfort zone can drive personal development. Learn how growth happens between the comfort and panic zones, with real-world examples.
Growth is a fundamental human trait. At the personal level, every one of us wants to grow, though the specific area of progress may vary. For some of us, growth may be having more money, while for a few others it can be moving up the corporate ladder, and for others, it can be to become a better person, spend more time with loved ones, and so on. Regardless of what growth means, the fundamental aspects that take you to the next step remain the same.
Often, hard work and good mental and physical health are seen as the enablers of growth. However, there is also an important aspect, which is moving from the comfort zone to learning zone in order to get better at what you want.
What exactly is this comfort zone vs. learning zone, and how can we get there? Let’s find answers to these questions in this article.
There are three zones: the panic zone, learning zone, comfort zone. These are mental states that determine our actions and mindsets.
Let’s understand these zones with a practical example. Imagine you are an employee at a company and have been doing the same work for the last few years. You know how to do your job perfectly well. You are in your comfort zone.
Now, you hear about a new technology and how it can impact your job in the future. When you understand this possible impact, you start exploring how it can impact your job, and upskill yourself to avoid becoming redundant. During this process, you have stepped into the learning zone and have made yourself more valuable to your organization.
Now, let’s assume you ignored the technology threat. Finally, when the organization replaces you with the new technology, you’re out of a job, and get into the panic zone.
As you can see from the above example, staying in the learning zone at all times can be beneficial because it can help you be one step ahead and continuously improve yourself. This is exactly what Azeem Azhar, futurist and prize-winning technology analyst, advises everyone. His views go beyond technology and extend to every aspect of life and work.
Every skill that you have acquired was when you were in the learning zone. Whether it’s college, driving, cooking, coding, public speaking, etc., it was all learned in this zone. By choosing to step into the learning zone regularly, you keep getting better at what you want. In this zone, you continue to:
Due to these profound benefits, prominent vision and strategy speakers emphasize staying in this learning zone for lifelong learning and improvement.
Extremes are always dangerous, and this is why you must avoid the complacency of the comfort zone and the stress of the panic zone. Without the learning zone, you will be forced to jump from the comfort zone to the panic zone, resulting in confusion and even resistance to learning due to stress.
Instead of either extreme, it works best when you;
As Adelina Chalmers demonstrates in her work with tech leaders, progress is more sustainable and lasting when you take small steps every day instead of huge leaps that drain your energy.
There are many real-world examples of how people have benefited by entering the learning zone and staying there consistently. Andre Borschberg, for example, was the co-pilot of the first solar-powered flight around the world. To achieve this feat, he had to move from his comfort zone to high-risk decisions each day.
How can you get into this zone and make learning an everyday habit? Here are some tips:
With these pointers, you can be in the learning zone and leverage its many benefits.
To conclude, personal development and growth depend on the small steps you take each day. Many people like Bianca Lopes, a leader in digital identity and financial services, have become successful through such measures. Whether you’re a student, a working professional, or someone looking to improve yourself, this is the time to push yourself into the learning zone.
As an organization, it’s important to encourage your employees to get into this zone, so you can continue to leverage the emerging changes that happen around you.
To bring in speakers who can guide your employees into this zone, reach out to Speaker Agency today.