147. Disrupt Yourself: How to Innovate Who You Are and Become Who You Can Be | Think Fast, Talk...

Introduction (0s)

• Matt Abrahams introduces the Radical Candor podcast and its benefits.
• Encourages listeners to join him as a guest on the podcast on June 19th.
• Introduces Whitney Johnson, a keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of several books on disruption and growth.
• Mentions his previous conversation with Whitney on her podcast and expresses excitement for their discussion.

The Concept of Disruption (1m25s)

• Whitney Johnson defines disruption as a term popularized by Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor.
• Disruption initially referred to products, services, companies, and countries.
• Johnson had a realization while working with Christensen that disruption could be applied to personal lives as well.

Identifying and Leveraging Distinctive Strengths (2m48s)

• Disruption is a process of deliberate self-innovation to rewire the brain and build new neural pathways.
• Growth is the default setting for humans, but it requires self-disruption and deliberate self-innovation.
• Identifying strengths can be challenging because they are often invisible and undervalued.
• Some tools, like Strengths Finders, can help identify strengths.
• Two ways to identify strengths:
  • Observe what exasperates you - if something seems easy for you but not for others, it might be a strength.
  • Pay attention to compliments received from others - write them down or record them to reflect on later.
• We often don't value our strengths because they come easily to us, limiting our ability to lean into them and contribute uniquely.
• Example: Non-native English speakers have the strength of translation due to their ability to translate from their native language.
• Articulating strengths clearly and concisely is crucial for effective communication and self-awareness.
• To articulate strengths effectively:
  • Be specific: Avoid vague or general terms.
  • Use examples: Provide concrete instances where you've demonstrated your strengths.
  • Quantify achievements: Whenever possible, use numbers or data to support your claims.
  • Seek feedback: Ask others for their perspectives on your strengths to gain a well-rounded understanding.
• Clear articulation of strengths enables better self-awareness, more effective communication, and increased opportunities for growth and collaboration.

The S Curve of Learning (6m11s)

• The S-curve, introduced by Everett Rogers, describes personal growth and disruption in three stages: Launch Point, Sweet Spot, and Mastery.
• At the Launch Point, predictions are inaccurate, leading to mixed emotions and self-doubt.
• The Sweet Spot is reached when predictions become accurate, resulting in emotional surprises and rapid growth.
• Mastery is achieved when the predictive model is debugged, leading to slow growth and a choice between comfort or further disruption for growth.
• Mastery can be personal, such as reaching a goal or completing a learning journey, rather than becoming a world expert.

Tenacity and Tolerance in Personal Disruption (11m56s)

• Give yourself permission to be at the launch point of learning something new.
• Being at the launch point provides a fresh perspective and opportunities for growth.
• Tenacity is crucial when embarking on self-innovation and building new neural pathways.
• Understand that the initial phase of learning something new is challenging and requires patience.
• Use a mental framework or model to develop tenacity and navigate the emotional terrain of doing something new.
• Not every S-curve (learning curve) is the right fit, and it's important to recognize that.

Encouraging Disruptive Ideas in Organizations (13m35s)

• Leaders can foster a culture that encourages disruptive ideas by creating a safe space for open dialogue.
• Sharing personal feelings and experiences can help build trust and emotional connections among team members.
• When team members feel safe, they are more likely to engage in constructive dialogue about disruptive ideas.
• Focus on the ideas themselves rather than the individuals presenting them, fostering a collaborative problem-solving environment.

The Final Three Questions (17m0s)

• The key to successful communication is emotional connection and taking the time to make connections so that people feel comfortable sharing what's important to them.
• Psychological safety is critical to creating an environment where people feel comfortable being emotionally connected and open.
• To tailor messages for different audiences, have a conversation with representatives of the audience to understand their needs and wants.
• Ensure the introduction to the speech is clear and credentials the speaker.
• Start with a story to allow the audience's brains to fire together and wire together, making them more receptive to the content.
• End with a moment of inspiration to motivate the audience to take action.
• Jacob Collier is a musician and communicator who collaborates with different musicians to create fresh and magical music.
• He turns the audience into a choir during live performances, creating a shared experience and uniting them.
• Focus on the person you're talking to, see them, smile at them, and listen to them.
• Be present and engaged in the conversation.
• Be authentic and genuine in your communication.

Conclusion (22m30s)

• Focus on the other person, be present yourself, and focus on listening and validating to have a transformative and disruptive experience.
• Validate and repeat back what the other person says.
• Being present means being fully engaged in the conversation and not thinking about other things.
• Preparing for a conversation is important, but once the conversation starts, it should be more like a jazz improvisation than a classical performance.