Dr. Tony Bridwell, organisational behaviourist and culture expert, explains why leaders stall when growth demands discomfort — and why trying to "solve" growth is often the wrong approach.

THE REAL STICKING POINT:

Leaders want growth but crave comfort. The minute things feel uncomfortable, they retreat — even though their desire to grow is strong.

THE BIG INSIGHT:

Growth isn't always a problem to solve. Often it's a polarity, a tension between two interdependent values — like safety and speed.

Trying to choose one over the other creates paralysis. The solution? Wrestle with the tension, stay in the messy middle, and lead through discomfort.

LEADERSHIP TRUTH:

You don't build businesses, you build people — and people build the business. As Zig Ziglar said:

"You don't build a business, you build people, and people build the business."

THE REFLECTION:

Where are you trying to pick "either/or" when you could hold "both/and"? Stop avoiding discomfort. Lead through tension. That's where growth lives.

ABOUT DR. TONY BRIDWELL:

Chief Talent Officer at The Encompass Group, former Chief People Officer at Ryan, LLC and Brinker International, author of eight books, international speaker in 44 countries, and adjunct professor at SMU teaching Executive Leadership.

SCALEX AND SIMPLE SCALING:

Book: Simple Scaling: 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business ScaleX Elevate: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-elevate (for businesses under £2M revenue) ScaleX Accelerator: https://simplescaling.com/scalex-accelerator-programme(for businesses over £2M revenue) Website: https://simplescaling.com Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/simple-scaling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplescaling

ScaleX Insider is a 12-month journey for ambitious SME leaders combining strategy, mindset work, and peer support to break through revenue plateaus.

Podcast Host: Brendan McGurgan, Co-Founder Simple Scaling