Dear Leaders,
One of the hardest parts of learning is the discomfort that comes with not knowing. While many of us call ourselves lifelong learners, few of us enjoy being a novice. We’d much rather feel the confidence of mastery. Yet, discomfort is the very sign that we are learning. As leaders, we must model embracing that tension—nurturing curiosity, testing assumptions, and allowing ourselves to grow.
For me, frustration, doubt, and anxiety often surface when I’m learning something new. I’ve wrestled with perfectionism, but I’ve learned that mistakes are the price of growth—and they are worth it. As leaders, when we ask others to stretch, we must also help them navigate the discomfort that growth brings. Here are three ways to do that:
Acknowledge imperfection: mistakes are part of progress. Make it clear that errors will happen and that you’ll work through them together. Sharing your own missteps builds trust and eases the pressure for perfection.
Recognize discomfort: growth rarely feels easy. A former superintendent once told me that we should be “60 seconds from the wall,” like race car drivers pushing themselves to improve. Discomfort is proof that we’re in the learning zone.
Embrace uncertainty: it’s a stage, not a destination. Learning begins with the unknown. As we gather knowledge and refine skills, our thinking shifts and our path to mastery becomes clearer. Remind others that uncertainty is temporary.
This week, I encourage you to reframe discomfort as a sign of growth—for yourself and for those you lead. One of our greatest responsibilities as leaders is to create the conditions where others can stretch, stumble, and ultimately soar. That’s how we leave every place better than we found it—and how we lead with heart, soul, and from the inside out.
Yours in Leadership,
Dr. Latoya Dixon