Discomfort and Growth in Leadership: The Lever Most People Refuse to Pull

Why the life you want will always require something you don't want to do

By Jessica Klatt Behavioral Leadership Strategist, Be Industries

There's something most people never understand about discomfort and growth in leadership — that the two are inseparable. Years ago, I learned this lesson the hard way, and now it's part of the core of who I am.

If I had the ability to instill this lesson into every human alive — to help them reach the potential they carried into this life — I would.

But that's not how this works.

If you're reading this and something in your life feels off, don't ignore it. That discomfort is information.

When Everything Breaks, You See Clearly

Twenty-plus years ago, my health was failing — and it was failing fast.

It wasn't just physical. It was mental. It was spiritual.

I was a young parent and wife, and I was completely lost.

Within a few years, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and heavy metal poisoning.

I was so sick.

I was so depressed.

And I was so over it.

I tried outsourcing the solution. I tried finding someone to fix me.

It didn't work.

I suffered for a long time before I finally faced the uncomfortable truth: Nobody was coming to rescue me. I had to save myself.

The Turning Point Most People Avoid

I had to evaluate my life — my condition, my choices, and my patterns.

I had to decide what I was actually willing to do to change the trajectory of my life.

And I did.

What followed wasn't pretty. It wasn't convenient. It wasn't balanced.

It was disciplined.

It was uncomfortable.

It was relentless.

The Work That Changed Everything

The list of what I did over the years was exhaustive.

I spent a lot of money. I mean — a lot.

But more than that, I put myself through levels of discipline most people will never choose.

I love food. But I had to let a lot of it go. Not "cut back." Not "be mindful." I eliminated grains, sugar, gluten, dairy, and soy to reduce inflammation — while my body was begging for those exact things.

• I did multiple 5-day water fasts to support cellular healing.

• I relied heavily on supplements to rebuild my body.

• I moved intentionally and learned from people who actually lived it — not just talked about it.

• I skipped the birthday cake. I passed on ice cream with my kids. I gave up alcohol for a long time.

I did it all. And I transformed.

"If I can go five days on water alone, I can do just about anything. That's not about fasting.

That's about capacity."

The Part No One Talks About

My entire world changed.

On the surface, I lost weight and inflammation. My body leaned out. My skin changed. I looked younger than I had in years.

But that wasn't the real shift.

My energy changed.

My confidence changed.

My identity changed.

For the first time in my life, I felt like the person who had been buried underneath years of inflammation, depression, and disconnection.

And people asked. Actually, they demanded: "What did you do?"

So I told them. Everything. The discipline. The sacrifice. The structure.

And more often than not, I was met with: "Well, I can't do that."

Or worse — pity.

They saw loss. I saw freedom.

They saw restrictions. I saw power.

This Is Where Most People Tap Out

This is the journey.

Your past shapes your future — but only if you're willing to engage with it.

My brain now understands something most people never train themselves to believe: if I can go five days on water alone, I can do just about anything.

That's not about fasting. That's about capacity. That's about proving to yourself — through action — that you can do hard things. Because once you know that, everything changes.

This is also where comfortable misalignment in leadership becomes so easy to justify — because staying with what feels familiar can seem safer than stepping into the discomfort required for growth.

What This Has to Do With Leadership and Business

This is the exact same pattern I see in business every day.

Owners want growth. They want scale. They want freedom. But they don't want the discomfort required to get there.

Here's the truth: you will face your own version of a "5-day water fast" in business — over and over again. As part of our Behavioral Leadership Strategy work, we help owners name what's actually blocking them — and it's almost always a discomfort they've been avoiding:

• Letting go of control

• Having hard conversations

• Setting boundaries

• Rebuilding structure

• Making decisions without full certainty

That's the work. That's the edge. And that's where most people stop.

This is one reason why business owners get stuck in day-to-day leadership — not because they lack vision, but because letting go of control requires a level of discomfort many leaders avoid.

The Reality of Scaling

If you're unwilling to do what it takes, it's better to admit that now.

Because this path will expose you, it will require you to change. It will push you beyond what feels comfortable, familiar, or safe.

One of the most powerful things we do in Leadership Consulting is help business owners understand their own wiring — so they can stop fighting themselves and start leading from their actual strengths. Understanding your team's wiring through Leadership Assessments accelerates this dramatically.

A lot of scaling resistance is connected to the hidden beliefs driving your leadership — the beliefs that tell you control is safer than trust, or that stepping back means things will fall apart.

But if you're willing to lean in? Everything opens.

Don't Try to Predict the Pain

If you're ready to level up, stop trying to look ahead and calculate the discomfort. That's where people get stuck.

Instead: lean in. Trust your capacity. Handle what's in front of you.

Better yet, bring your team along. A Team Dynamics Event can surface the patterns holding your entire organization back — quickly, and in a way that creates real alignment rather than temporary motivation.

Because of the reward on the other side of that discomfort? It's bigger than you can currently comprehend.

Done operating below your potential?

Find out exactly what's holding your leadership back — and what to do about it.

Take the Leadership Diagnostic

FAQ: Discomfort, Growth, and Leadership

Why is discomfort necessary for growth?

Discomfort is contrast and opens you up to change. Without it, you stay in familiar patterns — even if those patterns are keeping you stuck.

How do I know if discomfort is good or a red flag?

Growth discomfort stretches you but aligns with your goals. Misalignment discomfort drains you without forward movement.

Why do most people avoid discomfort?

Because it challenges identity, habits, and control. It requires uncertainty — and most people default to what feels safe because the ego is working to protect you.

How does this apply to leadership?

Leadership requires decisions, boundaries, and accountability — all of which are uncomfortable but necessary for growth. Explore our Hiring & Behavioral Fit Strategy to see how behavioral insight makes those decisions easier.

This is also where being liked vs being respected in leadership matters, because growth often requires decisions, boundaries, and conversations that may not make everyone comfortable.

Can you grow without extreme sacrifice?

Yes, but you cannot grow without intentional discomfort. The level varies, but the principle doesn't.

What's the first step to using discomfort as leverage?

Stop avoiding it. Identify one area where you're hesitating and take action anyway.

About the Author

Jessica Klatt

Behavioral Leadership Strategist · Founder, Be Industries — Hudson, WI

Jessica works with business owners and leadership teams across the U.S. to identify the real problems beneath surface-level issues — using a blend of behavioral insight, data, and real-world application.

Her work focuses on leadership, communication, and culture, helping businesses move from reactive chaos to structured, scalable growth.