Just a thought.

When you were a kid, do you remember recess when all the kids would run and play games on the playground? What an amazing feeling! All that pent up energy from the day was finally allowed to be expressed in all the funny, quirky and spontaneous ways.

Teachers, I am sure you still know this scenario very well. (Shoutout to all of the teachers- thank you for what you do!)

I remember when I was in elementary school, we actually spent most of our recess time in a big open space… basically a parking lot. The interesting part of this was that we were never assigned any particular activity during recess. It was basically a big blank canvas for our imaginations to run wild and free. Though a lot of kids would probably argue these days that playing in a parking lot would be boring.

I remember that thought, “I wonder what we will do today!”

Some days we searched for caterpillars. Some days we played tag. Some days we practiced our Next Top Model walk. Some days we played kickball. Some days we climbed trees. Some days we giggled and talked about our crushes on the boys in our class.

But nevertheless- it was always unique and entertaining.

Did you have a kid in your class who naturally took the lead?

I think every class had one or two. The one who always came up with the ideas. The one who encouraged the next move… and most of the time the rest just kind of followed along (probably without even realizing it).

Recess was always much more interesting if we had a leader was creative, innovative and curious. Maybe you were one of those natural leaders or maybe you were perfectly content with going with the flow.

Thought Leadership can sometimes feel a lot like this. Though in the professional atmosphere, Thought Leaders DO often have an advanced education or expertise… this is not always the case- nor is it required. Thought Leaders can often times be the natural leaders in their communities - simply having a strong reputation for being the wise one in the room where decisions are being made. Perhaps it is the one people look to in times of what seems like a blank canvas or a big empty parking lot.

I believe adults have lost a lot of their edge when it comes to being Thought Leaders. When we were kids at recess, we weren’t concerned about hierarchy or a quarterly review from our peers. We wanted to explore, laugh, create, inspire, wonder, and play. We wanted to make the most of the time, where learning was on our terms and relationships blossomed everyday. But years later, as we sit in our office chairs and stare at a screen for hours on end- we have forgotten the joy of taking time to create. It has been easier to maintain the norms, schedules, and simply regurgitate what we consume day in and day out.

But let me ask you this… When was the last time you took time to think?

Not about your grocery list or where you want to vacation next year, but really think.

It seems like every second of the day we are consuming, consuming, consuming. Either we are reading the news, scrolling social media, checking our emails, or writing down our to do's. Even since I have been starting to read every day (which has been very inspiring) - that is still consumption.

I can think of so many ways that I produce when it comes to my job. That is kind of the point of my role, right? I am there to provide a knowledge and a service. Maybe your job allows you to integrate your own creativity into your projects, etc. but I would challenge you that this is not necessarily the same target that I am discussing. I am talking about - no deadlines - no rules - no necessary results.

I am talking about finding that curiosity about life… and having more lightbulb moments outside of the workplace.

When do we create? When do we propose a sparkly new idea? When do we try something new just for the heck of it? When do we contribute to the time at recess?

Do you give yourself a recess?

If you haven’t had that feeling of running out to recess in a while… find a way to do that for yourself. The freedom to be who you are where you are can inspire in more ways than one.

But I must warn you- this is not the end of it.

The next stage of Thought Leadership is SHARING your thoughts with others. Even when that kid at recess had all the best ideas- it wouldn’t matter if they weren’t share with their friends and classmates. Sharing can be daunting - especially now as adults. The world is harsher and the judgment never seems to cease. It is true- maybe it was easier on the playground.

Part of the courage and conviction that is necessary to make this transition is knowing that your contribution matters.

Though the flavor of this blog has been very lighthearted and carefree as we talk about the good old days of elementary recess- there is something very crucial here that I want you to hear. Once you have given yourself the time and space to be a creator and contributor as a Thought Leader, you may just surprise yourself when you realize you do have something of importance to say.

You might just realize that your voice is EXACTLY what this world needs. You may realize that your voice is exactly what your friend needs.

Thought Leadership could be a big and scary thing or maybe it could just start with you sharing a few thoughts on your social media or sharing some ideas with your friends. It could be speaking up during a staff meeting or digging your heels into a topic that you really love to learn and share about.

When was the last time you learned something or painted something or wrote something just for you? If you haven’t experienced that yet- I would suggest to start there. You have to know how to lead yourself before you can effectively lead anyone else. You never know where your own thoughts can lead you. Explore these new parts of your self and when the time comes- be brave enough to share them with those who may not even know they need it yet.

Just a thought.