What Growth Actually Feels Like
At the end of the first workshop in Aileron’s Becoming a More Conscious Leader 12-month program, a participant laughed and sighed while sharing, “I feel like I’ve been through a workout — for my brain and my heart.”
That’s not unusual. In fact, it’s expected.
As Erika Alessandrini, Aileron Leadership Coach, often reminds participants: “When people are growing, it’s not comfortable.”
And that’s exactly the point.
Real Growth Isn’t Always Comfortable
If you’re looking for a leadership experience that’s all inspiration and no introspection, this isn’t it.
Conscious leadership isn’t about quick motivation or flashy takeaways. It’s about transformation. And transformation usually requires facing the very things we tend to avoid:
- Our stress triggers
- Our blind spots
- Our old habits that no longer serve us
It’s not always easy. But it’s necessary.
The Power of a Safe Room
One manager entered the workshop skeptical. She’d attended countless conferences filled with slide decks and surface-level advice.
But this time was different.
She found herself sharing a real conflict she’d been holding onto — something she’d never spoken about openly. The group didn’t offer judgment. They leaned in with curiosity and support. Other participants began sharing, too.
That’s by design. These environments are intentionally structured to create psychological safety, where vulnerability isn’t risky—it’s respected.
The discomfort of honesty often becomes the first step toward meaningful growth.
When You’re Stuck on Repeat
Many leaders arrive feeling stuck — not because they lack drive or intelligence, but because they’re trapped in cycles they can’t quite break:
- Fixing the same problems again and again
- Feeling overstretched across work and life
- Achieving wins in one area while losing ground in another
These recurring challenges are rarely solved by working harder. They’re solved by working differently.
Conscious leadership shifts the mindset from either/or to both/and — making room for both results and relationships, for work-life harmony and team performance.
That shift is uncomfortable at first. But it’s also liberating.
Practice Makes the Breakthrough Possible
This kind of growth doesn’t happen in a single session. It’s built through repetition, reflection, and real-world application.
Participants commit to:
- Practicing tools between sessions
- Meeting with accountability partners
- Checking in with peers and coaches
The discomfort doesn’t stop in the room — and that’s a good thing. The real transformation happens in conversations at home, in moments of tension at work, and in decisions made with greater clarity.
And when leaders stumble (everyone does), they return to the group — not for judgment, but for support.
Stretching With Support
Erika puts it plainly: “If you don’t feel at least a little uncomfortable, we’re not doing our job. Growth requires it. But you’ll always feel supported while you stretch.”
That combination — discomfort with support — is what unlocks real change.
It’s why leaders often report breakthroughs that go beyond business:
- Repaired relationships at home
- Clearer thinking in moments of stress
- A renewed sense of satisfaction and self-awareness
Because sometimes, what feels like discomfort in the moment is actually the beginning of real alignment — with your values, your goals, your life, and your purpose.
Growth Feels Different — And That’s the Point
You won’t walk away from conscious leadership work with a hype-filled to-do list. You’ll walk away with something better:
A clearer sense of who you are, how you lead, and what really matters.
And yes, it might feel uncomfortable. But that’s where real leadership begins.
Not ready to commit just yet? Sign up for a complimentary Discovery call to connect and learn more.
