If your org wants to be good at thought leadership,
you need your people to know it’s okay to share 
imperfect ideas. 
In the past, we’ve talked a little bit about content insecurity,
And how it can keep someone from moving forward. 
Your org’s culture and leader’s signals can –
to paraphrase Spinal Tap—
amplify content insecurity to 11! 
Let me explain.
People who practice thought leadership
see the flaws in their own ideas –
perhaps more clearly than anyone else.
They’re wrestle with these hobgoblins 
in their mind.
“Is my content smart enough?
“Is it ready to stand on its own?”
“Will others scoff at my ideas?”
Now, think about your org’s #culture.
Do your leaders demand perfection?
Or do they encourage small tests and experiments?
When your org requires perfection,
Smart people tie themselves into pretzels 
They don’t practice thought leadership because
they’re afraid of negative consequences.
They see potential downside of “messing up.”
They don’t want to risk:
Their annual review / bonus
Their chances of promotion
Their professional reputation
Content insecurity shuts smart people down.
It’s entirely rational behavior among your best and brightest.
Especially when they know the idea isn’t perfect yet.
Your #leadership and org #culture matter—massively.
—-
I write about:
#ThoughtLeadership, #OrgTL and #Brand