Discomfort & Creativity: The Unlikely Power Duo of Leadership
- Liza Engel
- 18 hours ago
- 3 min read
Whenever my kids come to me and say, “Mom, I’m bored,” I smile. Not in a sarcastic way—genuinely.
“That’s great,” I say. “Boredom means you’re right around the corner from creativity. Go create or invent something you always wished you had.”
Cue the predictable eye-roll. “Ahh, Mom…”
But here’s the thing: more than 75% of the time, they do it. They dream up something wildly imaginative, like a drone that flies me to work with a built-in coffee machine, or an entirely composed original song.
Watching them reminds me of a truth we often forget as adults, especially in leadership: discomfort isn’t a problem to solve—it’s a signal to listen to.
In a world addicted to instant gratification, where we can swipe away any moment of stillness or unease, we’ve trained ourselves to avoid discomfort or boredom. But in doing so, we miss its value. Discomfort is not just something to endure. It’s often the doorway to our most creative, honest, and transformational work.
As leaders, we often chase clarity, stability, and control. Yet the most profound growth and innovation don’t emerge from ease—they come from discomfort, struggle, and pain. What if, instead of resisting these moments, we could recognize them as potential for creative fuel?
Discomfort and creativity, though seemingly at odds, are deeply connected. In the context of leadership, they form a potent pairing that shapes not only the character of a leader but the direction of a business.
What Discomfort Can Teach Us About Creative Leadership
1. Discomfort Deepens Authenticity
Discomfort has a way of peeling back the performative layers. Leaders who’ve navigated setbacks, loss, or personal challenges tend to show up with more depth. Their empathy isn’t theoretical—it’s earned. Their decisions are guided not just by logic, but by lived experience. People aren’t drawn to perfect leaders but to real ones. Imperfection invites connection. It signals that it’s safe to be human, too.
Consider this: When you let your experiences humanize you, you create space for others to let go of the act—and that’s where alignment and impact begin.
2. Creativity Thrives in Constraint
Moments of tension—tight deadlines, failed launches, personal setbacks—often force us to think differently. Innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it happens when there’s something to push against.
Ask yourself: What might this challenge make possible that comfort never would?
3. Growth Demands Discomfort
Leadership is dynamic. Staying relevant, inspiring others, growing a business—none of it happens in your comfort zone. Discomfort is a byproduct of evolution. If you’re feeling stretched, it may mean you’re exactly where you need to be.
Reframe it: Discomfort isn’t a red flag—it’s a signal of emerging potential.
4. Vulnerability Unlocks Innovation
When leaders share openly about failures, doubts, or course corrections, they create cultures where people feel safe to do the same, and this is the most crucial ingredient for high-performing teams.
Lead the shift: Your openness may invite others to imagine beyond what is deemed possible.
5. Discomfort Sharpens Purpose
It clarifies. When systems break down or goals fall apart, we must get honest: What are we here for? What truly matters now? From that clarity, meaningful strategy and inspired action can grow.
Hold this truth: Let discomfort refine your purpose, not define your limits.
Growing Thoughts
Leadership isn’t about avoiding pain. It’s about navigating it with presence, purpose, and creativity. The leaders who thrive are not those who escape hardship, but those who grow from it, who turn their most difficult moments into their most defining ones.
On the other side of discomfort isn’t just healing—it’s growth.
If you feel like you’re at a low, ask yourself:
What is this moment trying to teach me?
What wants to emerge from here that couldn’t have come any other way?
Who could benefit from the insights I’m gaining right now?
Lean in to the discomfort. You might just be standing at the edge of your next significant breakthrough—and imagine the regenerative power if you knew that every setback was not a detour, but a source of growth.