I used to struggle with speaking up in meetings. I would get paralyzed by the thought that any idea I spoke out loud needed to be groundbreaking.
Then I'd leave the meeting, and my mind would flood with thoughts and ideas. And the reality of brainstorm meetings is that often the loudest voice wins. Not because they want to win, but simply because their voice might have been the only one filling the room. Once you leave the meeting, the train usually has already left the station.
Much of this block hinged on me thinking I had to hit gold on the first strike.
I have since learned that ideas and thoughts can work as stepping stones. Each new thought you speak out loud can bring you closer to the solution or concept that opens the door to the path you need to take.
With that said, verbal processing is a skill that can greatly benefit creatives and visionaries. It is something I was forced to learn, and it has helped in more ways than one.
So, don't be afraid of saying something stupid. That stupid thing might be the bridge everyone needs to find the gold.
