The Power of Being Empty Headed

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When it comes to creative brainstorming sessions or important meetings, you may think that the best way to contribute meaningfully to the event is to procure and digest all the information you possibly can beforehand and come up with a game plan. But I suggest that this approach can sabotage your best ideas, inspired moments and ability to resolve problems.

Do you remember your friends at school who spent every spare hour revising for their A-Level exams only to eventually arrive to exam day and perform...appallingly? And others, who did not revise, virtually at all, did really quite well?

Even the Bible in Exodus 10, tells us of Moses having nothing to say to the Pharaoh, and despite being coached by (literally) God, remained nervous and tentative. Yet, a sea was parted and many slaves set free that day after some choice words inspired in the moment when chatting to old Pharaoh.

What about a problem in a piece of work that, despite spending hours staring at a screen and pulling your hair out over, it is only after walking away and NOT thinking about it, that a solution or alternative approach enters your mind?

I think Boccaccio's character, Neifile, in the book The Decameron, sums up the concept of Empty Headedness beautifully: "Although a ready wit, dear ladies, often provides people with words which are beautifully appropriate to the circumstances, Fortune, who sometimes comes to the aid of those who are fearful, may quickly place upon their tongues words which would never have occurred to them while their minds were at rest..."

Could it be possible that planning in advance, projecting figures, cramming information, reading all the scholarly books, and imbibing all the trends around you, can hold you back from your instinctive best self?

And if it is, could adopting a mindset of what I am crudely naming here 'Empty-Headedness’, open up opportunities, unleash inspired ideas, and leverage other innate qualities you possess, that you wouldn't have otherwise recalled?

Here are 3 reasons why I believe being Empty Headedness can actually be a good thing:

1. Empty-headedness can lead to inspired moments and better problem solving.

When you arrive at an event, a party for example, what is the best mindset to be in? I suggest an open and curious mindset. One that is welcome to all possibilities. One not filled with preconceptions and pre-arranged words of artificial sentiment. This doesn't mean that you become a 'yes' man, and allow any manner of nonsensical or harmful rubbish to happen to you. It simply means that you are open to the experience and what it may bring. The best way to be inspired is not from thinking about what has inspired you in the past, but rather to be present to what is happening around you now. This is obviously vital for business.

And, when you are present, what is it you're actually doing? You're observing, and you're encouraging contribution, with yourself, and with the people around you. Not only does this support your endeavours as a Business Leader, (people LOVE to work for and with Leaders who are open and curious), but it also allows inspired moments to occur. Some people call this the "Flow State" and generally it's agreed to be a very conducive state to be in for creative ideas, inspiration and, to some extent (certainly enough for a meeting) - productivity. Previously unresolved problems, with seemingly out of reach solutions, can suddenly take a u-turn into clean simplicity accompanied by an open mind free from pre-supposed restraints and crammed information.

2. Empty Headedness teaches you to let go of control and trust the process

What do Business Leaders often forget when their business is in full overwhelming ramp up mode? They forget to play. And in place of play, they can opt for control. The expectation that everything should run a certain way, or appear a certain way, or that such and such outcome is expected, can overwhelm and dull the senses, leading to the adoption of habits like micro-management (and people have been taught not to like micro-management), and in the worst case scenarios - alienating your team.

Here's the facts: You may be an expert in your field. But you don't know everything. And ultimately empty-headedness is about admitting this to yourself. It's about levelling up and being OK with not knowing everything. Come on, try it - it can be a liberating experience. And I argue it's essential to any Business Founder that has an ounce of sense. When you let go of the need to control everything, and trust the process, you are free to be open and inspired. This can lead to better problem solving, and those special inspired moments that may prove to be the nudge your business needs.

3. Being Empty Headed allows you the space to acknowledge the importance of mistakes and adapt quickly.

Mistakes are a valuable part of the learning process, and as a Business Leader, it's important to be open to learning from them. If you've entered your business journey, or business meeting, having loaded yourself up on information that may or may not be relevant, or expectations you may or may not be able to manifest, you are doing yourself a disservice. Yes, you might have a business plan, god forbid you paid for it, but it's not founded in cement, is it? You've crammed all your desires, moves and goals into that document, and yet the market, even maybe your instinct, is trying to tell you something that you haven't picked up on, because you are not open. You are not Empty Headed. You are chockers full of pre-conceived notions of how things should be. And you are stunted by it. So you must adapt, right? Empty Headedness clears the field for adaptability.

Food for thought

Yeah - I know. People are not going to be comfortable with this because it infers that planning isn’t good. Yet, planning for success IS obviously GREAT! This state of Empty-headedness I’m endorsing is doing precisely that! The best laid plans allow for the swerve, for the unpredictable! Ultimately, Empty Headedness is accepting that you don't know everything, that you are open to making mistakes and learning, that you are present and curious and that you are willing to roll with the punches. From my observations, adopting this kind of mindset form time to time is vital to cultivate resilience, strength and erudition. It is a form of intelligence despite the misleading nomenclature! Some of the most substantive ideas and business moves you can make can catch you by surprise if you are open!

If you’d like to chat to me about these ideas and how they might help you in your business journey - send me a DM or email me. Contacts are in my Linkedin profile.?(And don't forget to visit our?website?and subscribe!)