What if the only thing you can give is your perspective?
Struggle with creating content, giving training, or making speeches
My story: “Creative” Child
Since my childhood, I have always tried to create content. I made movies with teddy bears. I wrote encyclopedias that were just copying interesting paragraphs from children's encyclopedias. I wrote Star Wars-inspired shored stories that I have never finished. I did not care I wasn’t original.
I was trying to give something, even if I copied the sentences from children's books, it was me who selected what is going to be copied. As humans we communicate, we share stories, we create stories (which we sometimes happen to believe). We are giving ourselves to the world.
I was not afraid to give myself, in many things I was rather an open person I would say. But then I grew up.
Excitement and knowledge dilemma
I like things about which I don't know much, if it is something new I am super excited to learn about it. I have urgency to tell about it to everyone. But wait?
It's a new thing, I am probably not the right person to speak about it when I just start exploring this topic. But I am so excited, exploring new things is like the lover you wanna tell everyone about. So I am telling everyone about genetics for which I read few books only?
No, I am not comfortable sharing that. I am not a child anymore. I am even not comfortable having an opinion on this topic because it simply might a bit stupid. I am a smart adult who is careful not to be ridiculed.
And don’t me wrong here, I might complain about my lack of courage, but I actually like this. It's me. When something is complicated I am not going to pretend it's simple and write simple articles, opinions or give advice on topics. I need to get my hands dirty with it or get enough knowledge until I am comfortable with sharing.
But here the real problem starts.
At the moment I am comfortable with my knowledge or experience in any topic. It sounds very easy, it sounds boring. It's so simple now, so why would I bother to create content about something so simple.
I feel like I cannot add anything new to the discussion. If I still have the urgency (or need in my job) to write or speak about topics I sometimes tend to state just facts.
I might were a suit, use corporate langue but I am doing really this childish thing of copying selecting part of the encyclopedia. I hope I can do better than little Tom, but how?
Adding your human part to everything
I need to use my own voice, telling my story. I need to give myself to readers. With all my flaws, insecurities but also insights, experience, and knowledge. This is the way how I communicate now. I am not lecturing people about a topic. I give my perspective on a topic. And this is the only way I can write anything. Otherwise, I am boring to myself.
There is most probably something better researched, more accurate, and better written. So to make writing more meaningful for you and your readers you need to give yourself, fully. There is no pretending. You must be vulnerable. Risk to be wrong sometimes and improve.
Giving your best and worst
Giving readers, coworkers, friends or anyone who is willing or should listen to you fully your perspective is risky. You might sound more like a human and less like a corporate manager or emotionally distant professor. But it includes admission of mistake, uncertainty.
In a world where people pretend to know what they are doing. In a world where people are 100% certain this human perspective might make you look less competent. But do you truly wanna be in such a world where fake confidence is mistaken for competency? I don't.
Being yourself will actually connect you with people, with readers, with coworkers. Profesional relationships might be more enjoyable with this radical openness.
We mistook personal stories with sharing of weaknesses only, but being personal and giving your perspective goes both ways. Sharing your flaws makes you human.
Stories about things which I have achieved, which I tried to achieve and no one told me to do them can inspire others. This is also part of you. Both flaws and exceptional achievements are your perspectives. They both make a coherent narrative about who you are. This narrative is your perspective on the factual information you are telling your audience.
So if I wanna write, make a presentation, give a speech, give training to people I must give myself fully, if people like it or not. In any other way would bore me and my audience to death.
