Social Skydiving

I recently stumbled into a new term while reading the first chapter of Adam Grant’s new book, Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things.

Social skydiving.

While social skydiving itself was not the focal point of chapter one, the term really struck me, and I found myself wanting to learn more. Social skydiving was a fitting term to include in a chapter about discomfort and how critical discomfort can be to our growth and development.

If you think about it, no great thing has ever been achieved without someone embracing discomfort. Building muscles is uncomfortable. Practicing public speaking is uncomfortable. Putting ourselves out there in the name of achieving anything is uncomfy but also worthwhile.

All of this to say, social skydiving sounds terrifying. According to a Forbes article from 2022, social skydiving is “the idea of exposing yourself to certain social situations, particularly ones that you’re not totally comfortable with, and then dealing with what unfolds.”

Certainly, we don’t do this just for the sake of possible suffering but rather to grow our skills and confidence when it comes to working and engaging with people whether that’s in the workplace or socially.

Perhaps when you hear this term, an experience instantly comes to mind. In my case, I’m reminded of something I wrote about in my book, Legacy of Learning: Teaching for Lasting Impact. I stepped into an elementary principalship having ZERO experience in two areas:

• ELEMENTARY
• HEAD PRINCIPAL

Eek.

So, wow, imagine my learning curve. Especially when I was stepping into an elementary building in October when their principal went on leave. I literally showed up on the first day and the HR director handed me a walkie, a district cell phone, and then wished me luck after putting out a spread of bagels out and encouraging staff to come down to meet me.

I was overwhelmed. So many names to learn. So many good people to get to know. I had a lot to learn about elementary. And that year, not only did I learn but I loved. And I felt loved in return.

So much of it was scary for me. It blew my mind that anyone would trust me to “be in charge.”

I didn’t trust me to be in charge!

But it turns out, when you social skydive for the right reasons, and you humble yourself to learning from adults and kids alike, you don’t just grow your mind and potential. You grow your capacity to feel and love deeply.

Before I knew it, I wasn’t just playing kickball at recess, cutting tops off yogurts for kindergarteners, or walking through classrooms every day, I was falling more deeply into a sense of care, community, and us-ness with students and staff.

I look back at that time in my life and wonder two things:

1. Why in the world did I say yes to this big adventure?
2. Do staff and students realize just how deeply they impacted me, my capacity to feel, and my learning?

That year is a year that changed me and changed my life.

Whatever it is for you, whatever that thing is that intrigues you but feels a lot like social skydiving, I hope you consider saying yes. Maybe you are considering a new job. Maybe you are considering trying something new.

On the other side of discomfort may be your greatest potential. And you deserve to find out.