Daring to think differently...

These days, thinking differently is typically aligned with and a synonym for the increasing popularity of 'neuro divergence' or 'non-linear' thinking.

I'm certainly a huge proponent of work in this area and speak extensively about it in my work and in episode 4 of my globally 1% ranked leadership podcast series.

In that episode, I discuss the fastest-growing bias in the HR industry, the cognitive diversity bias, and its effect on how leaders are identified, cultivated, and embraced and I do that by showing the real and tangible impact that marginalizing and discrediting those who think differently can have on individuals, teams, organizations and entire industries.

That episode can be found here - Making the Case for the Disruptive Leader.

What I want to cover in this newsletter is something different though - the concept that we have the opportunity to think differently right now.

Whether that's about ourselves, the organization we work in, the path we're on, or the challenges that consume our daily thinking - whatever it is, we can set a course of action if we truly want it, choose it, and focus on it despite the challenges that surface.

So in the context of this current newsletter edition, when I discuss 'daring to think differently', I'm referring to:

• The courage to take a different approach to thinking about challenges
• To zig when everyone else is zagging
• To go against the embedded groupthink that characterizes the majority of organizations today
• To consistently persist despite experiencing the fear and resistance that surface when something new is introduced that's often ahead of its time
• Oh and by the way, it's also the F in my F.I.R.E.D. Leadership methodology and framework - Fresh Thinking

I've always thought differently and I don't apologize for that - even if that's in the boardroom going against the safe thinking about how to make a high-profile transformation initiative sustainable, or at a dinner party challenging an inappropriate topic of conversation or in the pub supporting the football/soccer team that I think will win (often this contradicts the groupthink in effect).

You see, thinking differently isn't a badge, bumper sticker, or something trendy for me - it's part of my DNA as a human, part of how I turn up in my professional life, and part of how I position (and differentiate) my thought leadership work in an already overcrowded space of leadership, HR, culture experts.

It will also be one of the defining characteristics that sets future leaders apart and the research and interviews I've conducted increasingly indicate a growing need for leaders who truly think differently.

Incidentally, many of the well-intentioned 'experts' are themselves finding it difficult to think differently or to be open to thinking differently about their craft.

Don't you find that ironic?

To evolve means we must be open to thinking differently about ourselves, others, our ideas, and the impact we want to have on the world.

So it's of no surprise that my journey has taken me down a different path to discuss how our systems, approaches, and processes for how leaders are identified, recruited, onboarded and developed are not prepared for the future.

Five years ago I began zigging when everyone else was zagging (but telling me to zag with the herd only fueled my curiosity more to find out whether we were globally prepared for the future of leadership).

As you all are beginning to see, we're not.

I bring a different way of thinking to my craft - and thinking differently is at the core of the F.I.R.E.D. Leadership philosophy, mindset, approach and values. In case you haven't yet read the world's first book that explains why and how we will increasingly need a different kind of leader to support organizations to be future-ready, take a look here:

Use this code to get a 30% discount on my book: FIREDLEAD30 If you're in North America: https://lnkd.in/g2SGWBAy If you're in the UK: https://lnkd.in/gsEQaTWd

Here's what Perry Knoppert - Founder of the The Octopus Movement (himself someone who thinks differently) had to say about my book:

A critical resource for anyone seeking to understand and apply the principles of nonlinear leadership in today's rapidly evolving landscape. It's a testament to the power of fresh thinking and the endless possibilities that await those brave enough to embrace it.

Shifting gears, this also means I bring a different way of thinking about how I raise awareness of what I do and how I position my work - particularly when I speak on podcasts as a guest or am interviewed.

I've been fortunate to speak with a range of different podcast hosts and interviewers about what I'm doing - and whilst the format, approach, duration, and topics covered vary, the one constant that is always at the heart of every one of those podcasts and interviews is the courage to think differently and to express that different way of thinking unapologetically and in a way that evolves conversations, narratives and ways of doing things.

In case you want to check out some of those recent podcasts and interviews I've conducted, here they are:

Philip Fanthom at Talent Smart Ltd

Episode1: https://www.talent-smart.co.uk/resources-podcast/paulmccarthy

Episode 2: https://www.talent-smart.co.uk/resources-podcast/paulmccarthy-e2of2

Dawna Jones

https://shows.acast.com/insight-to-action-inspirational-insights-podcast/episodes/using-disruption-fearless-growth-paulmccarthy

Johanna Fink at Yellow Shelf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNEBC9PZ1Po

Thomas Capone at NYDLA.org

https://nydla.org/paulmccarthy/

Elzet Blaauw

Being a Thought Leader

Without the courage to approach thinking differently, little will change in our individual world, our broken team, our dysfunctional organization, our out-of-touch industry and our increasingly fragmented world.

This morning I also had the great fortune of speaking with the global head of leadership development for a major brand - I was asked 'How do I take people on the journey with me'.

The answer is simple - create the conditions to have honest conversations by embracing people who think differently.

How will you take people on the journey with you?

I dared to think differently five years ago, amidst people who wanted me to play it safe. I knew how we were identifying, recruiting, onboarding, and developing leaders wasn't working and few wanted to openly talk about it.

I said then, as I say now - we must shift our thinking in order to be prepared for the future of leadership.

Please feel free to share what we're doing here with those in your network who might benefit from it.

Thanks for reading this far. If you or your organization needs any help with preparing for the future, please email me at [email protected]

Cheers

Paul Mac