What are you thinking about lately? Is your brain feeling a little…tangled?
I often think of myself as an “untangler.” People tell me their complicated, or unrefined, or jumbled ideas. I untangle them, get rid of the knots, smooth them out, and simplify that big, messy jumble into something simple, clear, and easy to follow.
And phew, 2020 has left everyone feeling pretty tangled and jumbled up.
Even before 2020, I heard a lot of uncertainty and hesitation from leaders. “What do I have to say?” “Is now the right time?” “Is this the right idea?” “Will this resonate?” But this year has ramped up the impulse to hold back, hang tight, and keep things close to our chests. It’s hard to speak and write confidently and boldly when you aren’t sure what potholes you might step into next, or if the path ahead will even be there.
I’ve spent a lot of 2020 helping people dig up and untangle their ideas, but I’ve spent an equal amount of time encouraging people to speak up and practice the art of sharing their expertise.
Here’s the thing: despite its bad rap, true “thought leadership” isn’t about bravado or even perfect ideas. It’s about being brave enough to think in public, editing as you go, sharing and testing your ideas. It’s a public unjumbling. That takes confidence, yes, but also humility and a willingness to keep changing, learning, and growing.
When I looked back at my writing this year, one of the recurring messages was “practice!”
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Focus more on “practice” than on “polish.” The most interesting leaders don’t keep their ideas hidden until they magically have everything perfect. They think, they ideate, they share what they’re mulling over. And it’s that public practice that helps you (and your audience) untangle and refine your ideas over time.
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Get in the way of new ideas. If you aren’t sure what you have to share, put yourself in the way of more new ideas and gauge your reactions. Read, watch, and listen to find the ideas that make you say “and,” “but,” or “also.”
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Consider the path you’ve taken to get to your current level of expertise. People aren’t only interested in your shiny final product. They’re interested in how you got there — the aha moments that slowly moved you from novice to expert. People don’t want to just hear what you know. They want to hear how you know it. They want to see your practice rounds. They want to see the imperfect path.
So if you’re feeling tongue-tied, jumbled, or just unsure, my message is simple: Keep practicing. You won’t learn unless you try. Talk through your ideas. Write them down. Do it often. And let me know if you need a sounding board or an untangler.
