Beyond the Comfort Zone: Why Guidance Matters on Every Path

Crib Goch

There’s something about standing on the edge of Crib Goch. A jagged arête in Snowdonia, that leaves a lasting impression. Last week, I shared a moment from that very experience. Perched high above the clouds, wind biting and rocks sharp beneath my boots, I realised how our sharpest thinking doesn’t always happen in the comfort of a boardroom. Sometimes, it takes standing on a ridge, miles from familiarity, to really see clearly.

But as the memory lingers, there's another lesson from that ridge that I keep returning to:

Growth rarely happens in comfort.

Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes business decision or inching your way across a narrow mountain ledge, it’s in the spaces just beyond what we know that transformation begins. That edge, between comfort and challenge is where we grow. But here’s something we often forget: you don’t have to cross it alone.

The Case for Guidance

There’s a cultural narrative, especially among leaders and entrepreneurs, that to be strong is to be self-sufficient. That asking for help is weakness. That needing guidance means you’re not capable.

But the truth is this: even the most experienced, most capable leaders need support. They need sounding boards, guides, and people who can help hold the map when the path ahead is uncertain. And sometimes, they need someone to challenge them, to ask the uncomfortable questions, to point out blind spots, to call forth their best thinking when fear or doubt creeps in.

On a mountain, we accept this without question. Few people would set out on a technical or remote route without preparing. We consult maps, check weather forecasts, hire instructors or guides if needed, and ensure we have the right gear. There’s no shame in being guided. In fact, it’s seen as smart. Responsible. Wise.

But in our professional lives? In leadership? In personal growth? Far too often, we try to go it alone.

Why?

Perhaps it's pride. Perhaps it's fear. Or maybe we've just never been taught to value guidance in the same way we do on the trail.

Coaching as a Compass

That’s where coaching enters the conversation. Not as a fix, not as a shortcut, but as a form of companionship on the ridge.

Good coaching isn’t about giving answers. It’s about walking beside someone in their uncertainty. It’s about co-creating a safe, focused space where clarity can emerge. Where curiosity replaces judgement. Where questions cut through noise. Where growth can stretch its legs.

Coaching is not unlike a good mountain guide. The terrain might be unpredictable. The path ahead might require scrambling, or trust, or moments of stillness to assess the next move. But with someone at your side, someone who understands how to read the terrain, who knows when to push and when to pause, suddenly, that daunting edge becomes a place of possibility.

And it’s not just about solving problems. It’s about becoming. Becoming more resilient, more self-aware, more aligned with your values and purpose. Becoming the kind of leader who doesn't just survive discomfort but learns to dance with it.

What the Outdoors Can Teach Us About Leadership

Nature has a way of stripping things back. It removes the noise. The distractions. The titles and roles. Out there, it's just you, the elements, and the choices you make.

That’s why outdoor coaching is such a powerful modality. The natural environment not only offers metaphors for the journey you’re on, it becomes the journey. A rocky ascent might mirror the internal struggle of stepping into a new role. A misty ridgeline might reflect the fogginess you feel in a current decision. A pause at a summit might give space for a long-overdue breath.

When we physically step outside, we begin to mentally step outside too. We shift perspectives. We slow down. We listen more deeply—to ourselves, to others, and to the landscape.

That’s why I do what I do. Not because I have all the answers. But because I’ve seen what happens when people commit to walking their edge, with guidance, with reflection, and with intention.

From Ridge to Boardroom, and Back Again

The parallels between mountain paths and professional paths are endless. There are highs and lows. Exhilarating breakthroughs and sudden storms. Moments of clarity and times of doubt. And, inevitably, there are forks in the trail, decisions that demand courage.

What matters is not just which direction you choose, but how you choose it.

Do you rush in? Do you freeze up? Do you ask for input, or go silent under the weight of responsibility?

Do you try to prove you’ve got it all figured out? Or do you let someone walk beside you, even for a while?

True leadership is not about always knowing the way. It’s about being willing to explore. To adapt. To step into the unfamiliar, eyes wide open.

And sometimes, just knowing someone is walking with you is enough to take that next step.

Walking Together

If you’re standing at the edge of something right now, a big decision, a career shift, a personal transformation, know this: you’re not alone.

Maybe it’s time to step outside. Not just literally, but metaphorically. To explore what’s beyond your current limits. To let yourself be guided, not because you’re weak, but because you’re ready to grow.

I believe in coaching as a powerful force for change, not because it provides all the answers, but because it honours the journey. It celebrates the edges. It understands that real progress often begins just beyond comfort.

And it’s why I continue to take leaders, teams, and individuals into the outdoors—not to escape work, but to remember what work really is. A path. A practice. A series of choices. And yes, sometimes, a ridge with no obvious trail, until you take that first step.

So, if you're ready to explore your own edge, whether in business or life, let’s talk.

Let’s walk it together.

Curious to explore coaching outdoors or in your leadership journey?

Connect with me to start the conversation.