Barack obama wrote a book before he became president
Okay, a bit of a click bait title, I know. But did you know that he wrote a book called 'Dreams from my Father' before he became one of the most powerful men in America?
I haven't read it (apologies Barack), but I am using this example to illustrate the point of this article.
Writing is one of, if not, the most powerful skill you can develop if you want to be in any sort of leadership role.
Obama, as you can clearly tell, could write.
Chairman Mao (who remains a controversial figure in modern history), was a bookworm, and could write extensively.
Karl Marx, the father of 'Marxist Theory', and hence, Communism, organised his theory into words for the masses to consume. This changed the world. No really, wars were started over these words.
Why do I think writing is important?
Writing, as much as it bores many people, requires meticulous organisation and planning of words... centred around an idea or ideas.
What is leadership but your ability to motivate, inspire, persuade and/or direct people to a common goal?
Picture this - you are a manager at a David Jones and one of the patrons has just fallen over. They are on the floor, wailing in pain. Your three junior colleagues are looking at you for instruction.
The protocol is simple.
You privatise and hazard-audit the area - make sure bystanders are not walking by. Create privacy for the patron. And make sure that there is no danger to anyone else.
You perform basic First Aid
You wait for an ambulance if it is required, or, you stay with the patron until they are ready to move
Sounds simple on paper right?
But let's just say you know all these, but you do not have the words, nor the organisation, to say them in that order. Instead, you blurt out everything you're thinking, in no order, to no one in particular.
Chaos ensues.
If you've ever watched Obama speak, you've witnessed his suave and poise as he articulates his ideas (granted, he had speech writers). At the same time, you may have also noticed that his points 'make sense.' He takes you on a short journey with his words and you generally understand what he's trying to say.
This 'smoothness' of ideas is not simple. It is simple to you. But to achieve this ability is not simple at all.
This ability to be 'smooth' comes from speaking your ideas in a logical sequence, with minimal wastage, to a sensible conclusion.
This journey of idea > explanation > conclusion is not accessible to every speaker.
Because not every speaker has the ability to organise, explain and argue their points in a logical order.
Most people will start with an explanation or conclusion, fluff about, and then somehow reach the end.
If you cannot explain something to five people.
How do you expect to move an entire country?
And this is exactly what writing - no matter what form you do - will help you with.
Because as you write, you are forced to choose which phrases in your head matter most. Only those phrases will be put down on paper.
Then, if you are writing FOR someone, you have to consider whether this reader can understand what you are saying.
Doing this for reps, over a long period of time, will make you a better writer - but better yet, an impeccable articulator.
If you want to make your impact - you need to be able to articulate what it is you want to say.
That is what the leaders of the world are able to do.
And it all begins with a pen and a piece of paper.
If you want to begin your writing practice - I have a free 10 day journaling practice in the classroom. Get started and let me know how you go!