The Tyranny of the Blinking Cursor: Leadership Lessons from Writer’s Block

All of my blog articles start out the same way. I open a brand-new Word document on my computer. The bright white page fills my screen. The brightness makes me squint. In the upper-left-hand corner, the cursor blinks persistently.

The emptiness of the page is overwhelming. The cursor just keeps blinking. It blinks as if it were mocking me. I stare at my computer. The computer stares back at me. I imagine the computer looking back at me in desperation: “Are you going to do something? I’m ready. I’ve done my part, now do yours. Type something.”

Every time, like magic, I place my fingers on my mechanical keyboard and start striking the keys in rapid succession: clickity-clack, clickity-clack, clickity-clack, clack, clack. Words fill the screen. Ideas take shape. I get into the zone. I get into a?state of flow.

The first part of the process gets words onto the screen. It is sometimes a matter of sheer will to overcome the tyranny of the blinking cursor. It’s my desire to not be beaten by it that propels me.

Seth Godin wrote something interesting?about this phenomenon: “There’s no such thing as writer’s block.” I often think, “I don’t have any good ideas.”?Seth responds: “Do you have any bad ideas?”

The internal critic

After I managed to fill the blank page with lots of black pieces of the alphabet, I sit back and judge it: “Is this any good?”

I honestly have a hard time answering that question. “Will it go viral?” Probably not. “Will some be challenged and encouraged by it?” Yes, likely. “Is it too weird, niche, or out-there?” Maybe.

Feedback

You may not realize this, but I seek private feedback on my articles before I publish them. Based on that feedback, sometimes I don’t make any changes, but my confidence increases. Often, I change it a bit and make it better. Rarely, but sometimes, I decide to keep it on the shelf and not publish it.

The real feedback comes after I hit the publish button. I get to see in real-time the impact that my writing makes. To all of my readers that react, comment, or send me direct messages, thank you! Your feedback really helps me.

The leadership lessons

Many of you will never publish a blog article in your life. However, you will make a PowerPoint presentation. You will craft an important email communication. You will shoot a video for your strategic project. You will write a momentous speech to rally your team.

The process is the same. You need to push past the tyranny of the blinking cursor. Just push past it. Make yourself. The more you do it, the easier it gets. It never completely goes away, but you can develop a discipline and habit of denying “writer’s block” any power over your life. It’s a bit like stage fright for?public speaking. Every leader needs to face it sooner or later. The more you face it, the easier it gets.

Leaders self-evaluate

Leaders ask themselves, “Am I satisfied with my performance?” “Do I like what I’ve made?” Be your own judge. Bear your own standard.

Leaders seek feedback

Always solicit private feedback from a few trusted advisors. It doesn’t always have to be the same person. It probably should vary based on the subject. Listen to what they have to say, then adapt.

Always solicit public feedback after everything you do. Big meeting? How did it go? Huge project just finish? What did people think?

In summary, the virtuous cycle works like this: Push past the blinking cursor. Evaluate your work. Get feedback. Do it again. Those are my leadership lessons. I hope you’ve found this article helpful. As always, let me know!

Read this article on my?blog site?or listen to it on my?podcast???