Leading in the Dark: What My Aphantasia Taught Me About Effective Leadership

Let’s start with a little exercise.

Close your eyes and picture a horse. Go on, try it. Does an image of a horse come to mind?

Now, open your eyes.

If you saw a majestic stallion or maybe a cute pony, congratulations – your mind’s eye is in great shape. But if you saw nothing but darkness, welcome to the club! I recently stumbled upon a TikTok video and discovered that I have aphantasia.

No, it’s not some bizarre condition where I’m allergic to WiFi signals (though that would be an interesting challenge for a fully remote worker). Aphantasia means I can’t visualize anything in my mind’s eye.

Check out the tweet below to see where you fall on the aphantasia scale. Personally, my mind's eye looks like Box 1.

When people say “picture this,” I always thought it was just a figure of speech. Little did I know, you all were out there conjuring up actual images in your heads. Who knew?

To put it simply: when I close my eyes, all I see is black.

This revelation got me thinking about leadership and communication. As leaders, we often tell our teams to “picture the outcome” or “visualize the future.” But what if, like me, they see nothing but darkness? What if they can’t see what we see?

This is where our responsibility as leaders becomes crucial. We need to make our visions tangible. It's not enough to tell our team where we're headed; we need to show them the way, step by step.

Imagine trying to guide someone to a destination without a map. Frustrating, right? Here are some strategies to ensure your team sees the full picture:

Draw it Out: Whether it’s a flowchart, a sketch, or a detailed diagram, put your vision on paper. Visual aids are powerful tools for bridging the gap between words and understanding.

Use Metaphors and Stories: Analogies can help people grasp abstract concepts. They create relatable scenarios that make your vision more accessible.

Engage in Active Dialogue: Encourage questions and discussions. This not only clarifies your vision but also fosters a collaborative environment where everyone feels involved in the process.

Keep Banging the Drum: Repetition is key. It takes hearing a message seven times for it to really settle in. Ensure your team hears the same clear message over and over until it becomes second nature.

Regular Updates: Keep your team in the loop with frequent updates. Progress reports, visual milestones, and feedback sessions ensure everyone stays aligned and motivated.

Be Concrete: Provide clear, actionable steps. Ambiguity breeds confusion, but concrete actions pave the path to your vision.

In essence, leading with clarity means assuming your team has aphantasia. Spell out your vision in a way that’s impossible to miss. Make it so clear that they can’t help but see it, even if their minds are naturally inclined to darkness like mine.

So, the next time you’re tempted to say “picture this,” remember that not everyone can. Paint the picture for them, and watch how your clarity transforms into collective action and success.

Let’s take back Monday by leading with vision – one that everyone can see.