Why Do We Want Growth But Struggle to Achieve It?
Nearly everyone wants to grow in some way—especially leaders.
We aspire to:
✅ Be in better shape.
✅ Get healthier.
✅ Become smarter.
✅ Land a better job or career.
✅ Be a better boss.
Yet, despite our desire for growth, we often remain stuck. It’s not a lack of motivation. It’s not even a lack of effort.
So, what is it?
Growth Always Comes With Pain
Let’s take working out, for example. You buy the clothes, the gym membership, and the gear. You block time on your calendar and even create a plan.
Then reality hits when the weights hit you.
Working out hurts.
- Lifting weights? Painful.
- Running? Feels like torture.
- Crunches? Suffering.
Creatures of comfort don’t naturally embrace discomfort, and few things are more uncomfortable than pain. That’s why so many people own workout gear they never use.
But here’s the truth: Pain is the price of progress.
The same principle applies to personal leadership or organizational growth—without pain, there’s no real progress.
7 Pain Points That Lead to Growth
If you want to grow personally and organizationally, you must embrace discomfort. Here are seven personal and seven organizational pain points that might be holding you back:
🔹 Personal Pain Points That Produce Progress
1. Failure and Mistakes
The pain: Nobody likes failing. It’s embarrassing and frustrating.
The growth: Your biggest failures often become your greatest teachers. Leaders who embrace mistakes as learning opportunities develop resilience and adaptability.
2. Discomfort and Stretching
The pain: Growth requires you to step outside your comfort zone.
The growth: Taking on challenging projects, difficult conversations, or new responsibilities sharpens your skills and builds character.
3. Rejection and Criticism
The pain: Not everyone will like your ideas, and criticism stings.
The growth: Learning to separate your identity from your ideas will make you a better leader. Constructive feedback refines your thinking, communication, and leadership.
4. Delayed Gratification
The pain: Waiting for promotions, recognition, or results can feel frustrating.
The growth: Developing patience and discipline leads to long-term success.
5. Conflict and Confrontation
The pain: Difficult conversations are, well…difficult.
The growth: Avoiding conflict stunts growth. Facing tough conversations head-on strengthens emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness.
6. Uncertainty and Risk
The pain: Leaders often have to make decisions without complete information.
The growth: Navigating uncertainty builds decision-making confidence and strategic thinking.
7. The Loneliness of Leadership
The pain: Leadership can be isolating.
The growth: Learning to lead without constant affirmation develops inner resolve and stability.
🔹 Organizational Pain Points That Fuel Growth
1. Change and Disruption
The pain: Change is hard, and people resist it.
The growth: Adapt or stagnate. Organizations that embrace disruption evolve and stay relevant.
2. Crisis and Setbacks
The pain: Economic downturns, PR disasters, or internal crises expose weaknesses.
The growth: These moments force organizations to rethink systems, strategies, and leadership approaches.
3. Conflict and Culture Shifts
The pain: No team enjoys dealing with internal tensions.
The growth: Working through conflict strengthens collaboration and sharpens your culture.
4. Resource Constraints
The pain: Budget cuts and staff shortages feel limiting.
The growth: Scarcity fuels innovation. Teams with limited resources find creative solutions.
5. Losing Key People
The pain: When a key leader moves on, it can feel like a setback.
The growth: Transitions create opportunities for new leaders to rise.
6. Customer or Congregational Dissatisfaction
The pain: Negative feedback is hard to hear.
The growth: It reveals blind spots and forces you to improve.
7. Accountability and Hard Truths
The pain: Facing weaknesses is uncomfortable.
The growth: The best organizations embrace self-evaluation and external feedback.
What Pain Do You Need to Embrace?
Growth doesn’t happen without pain.
So, here’s your challenge: Identify where you tend to reject discomfort.
- Personally: Do you need to lean into failure? Seek more feedback? Engage in difficult conversations?
- Organizationally: Are you avoiding innovation? Resisting change? Ignoring the reality of leadership transitions?
The path to real progress requires a willingness to embrace discomfort.
Where will you start?
📌 Call to Action
Pick your poison (so to speak). Decide where you will hug the cactus.
💬 Quotes for Inspiration
“You will either step forward into growth or step backward into safety.” – Abraham Maslow
“Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever.” – Lance Armstrong
“Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Ginni Rometty
📚 Resources for Further Learning
- The Dip – Seth Godin
- Dare to Lead – Brené Brown
- Atomic Habits – James Clear
One More Thing…
If you found this helpful, please pass it along to other leaders (and encourage them to subscribe!).
If you’re ready to accelerate your leadership, I’d be honored to help. Visit gavinadams.com to explore coaching options and schedule a 30-minute conversation.
If you’re a church leader, be sure to visit the Church Accelerator Community.
Leading With You,
Gavin
