How do you respond to a new idea that takes you out of your comfort zone? In a world that is constantly changing, it is becoming increasingly important to be able to deal with discomfort and setbacks. Those who can embrace discomfort instead of walking away from it grow. How do you deal with frustration?
A crazy idea, or not?
In early 2019, full of confidence, the Head of Innovation at Spanish budget airline Vueling Airlines stepped into the CEO’s office. She had asked herself whether the company would still be an airline in ten years and concluded that the airline could benefit from investing in other services.
Her research showed that offering a service that connects people online would be a great additional fit to its current offerings. After all, an airline is not just about bringing people from A to B, but about bringing people together, the head of innovation concluded, and that could also be done online.
Her research revealed a good investment candidate: Zoom. She enthusiastically asked the CEO what he thought of the idea. His eyes widened, and he looked startled. He was so overwhelmed by this crazy idea that he just mumbled something like: “That’s an absurd idea”. The conversation ended there, and no further research was allowed. A year later, in 2020, no one was flying anymore due to the pandemic, and the whole world was ‘Zooming’ behind a screen…
Dealing with discomfort
The CEO of Vueling was completely surprised by an idea that went against everything he believed in, which frustrated him so much that he disregarded a brilliant idea. Frustration arises in various situations. From getting stuck with a task to not understanding something. And from being unable to accept that a colleague has a different opinion to receiving unsolicited advice or being oversensitive to criticism. Frustration makes you feel uneasy, dissatisfied, annoyed, and, above all, helpless.
Being able to deal with discomfort and absorb problems, setbacks and disappointments is called frustration tolerance. When things don’t go as you want, but you remain calm and respond constructively, your frustration tolerance is high. However, if you can’t cope with uncertainty or situations out of your control, you get frustrated easily. A setback or disappointment overwhelms you, and you take criticism personally. Irritation piles up, and it does not take long before you become grumpy and cut yourself off.
Short-tempered
Frustration has a negative effect on the productivity and well-being of employees. Too much frustration leads to complaining, postponing, acting impulsively, and avoiding and obstructing colleagues. Or worse, to anger, aggression, and losing self-control. Uncontrolled frustration can develop into a conflict quickly.
The number of conflicts in the workplace doesn’t lie. Various studies show that approximately 85% of employees are dealing with some kind of work-related conflict, and almost a third (29%) often or always. Employee engagement has never been lower, and workplace statistics for stress, burnout, and absenteeism are at an all-time high for a reason.
Dynamic world
The stress level in the workplace is increasing while the world is constantly changing and becoming increasingly dynamic. Many problems are so complex that obvious answers won’t work. A different approach is needed, but most people are unfamiliar with that. In addition, solutions and ideas become better when viewed from numerous perspectives, which usually comes with disagreements. That can make people extremely uncomfortable. Their stress and frustration levels increase, and they close themselves off to change even more.
With a rise in complexity and change in the world and in the workplace, it is becoming increasingly important to feel comfortable with being uncomfortable. To embrace difficult situations rather than to avoid them. To be open to a different opinion and not wanting to prove yourself right all the time. And to dare work on seemingly impossible problems to solve them.
Easier said than done?
The good news is that you can increase your frustration tolerance by consciously facing discomfort. For example, by having a conversation with a colleague with a completely different opinion, taking on a task that you can’t do yet, or doing something that you’re afraid of. The key is not to start too big and take little steps. Because the more you practice embracing discomfort, the better you can deal with it.
You’ll start seeing change and new challenges as exciting and energising rather than being freaked out about it. You become more flexible, and your self-confidence grows. That upward spiral releases a lot of positive energy and works contagiously. The grumbling and complaining on the work floor disappear like snow in the sun. Better for you and your co-workers!
This article was originally published in Dutch on CHRO.nl – the platform for HR executives.
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