Fostering Deep Connections and Purposeful Thinking

 If you know me, you know that I love digital gadgets. But, sometimes, it’s the simplest tool that makes the biggest impact: the humble pencil and paper. As a leadership development coach and advisor, I know that this old-school analog approach creates deeper, more meaningful results when leaders work to define themselves.

 The first critical steps when working with executives is the development of their Purpose, Principles, and Vision.  I used to simply ask them to start the process now I ask them to use pencil and paper. After going through this process many times over my career, I've learned that digital devices create some kind of barrier to authentic reflection. The tactile nature of writing by hand forces deeper engagement with each word and concept. Unlike a keyboard's backspace key, which enables instant deletion and promotes rushed thinking, pencil and paper encourage people to sit with their ideas – even the imperfect ones – and truly develop their thoughts before committing them to the page.

 The Power of Handwriting

When you write by hand, something special happens. Winston Churchill, Oprah Winfrey, Barack Obama, and Steve Jobs (Ya, the tech guy) used handwritten notes to express commitment to the people and issues they were writing about. 

The physical act of writing engages the brain more deeply than typing, forcing a slower, more deliberate thought process*. The pencil forces you to carefully form each word, giving you time for reflection and deeper consideration of ideas. Unlike digital tools, where thoughts can be instantly deleted and rewritten, pencil and paper preserve the journey of thinking - including the valuable "mistakes" that often lead to breakthrough insights.

 This Matters for Leadership Development

Developing your authentic leadership principles is about more than creating perfect statements on the first try. It's about the human in you exploring and evolving your thoughts. The visible marks of revision on paper - the cross-outs, arrows, and margin notes - become a record of how ideas grow. These physical traces of thought of your development create a richer, more meaningful connection to the final principles than anything you can type, backspace over, and re-type ever could.

 Beyond Digital Efficiency to the Human Experience

Digital tools excel at efficiency, and I love my iPad and MAC as you know; your development requires something different: an exploration of your humanity. The physical experience of writing by hand, free from the distractions of notifications and email alerts, creates space for genuine reflection and creativity. The result is more than words on a page - it's a tangible reminder of your journey and commitments to yourself and others.

I hope you have a great day!

* Brain activation during handwriting contrasted with typing (2012) Authors: Berninger, et al. Published in: Journal of Writing Research Finding: fMRI studies showed handwriting activated more areas of the brain associated with memory and learning than typing did.

My current favorite pencil is the Blackwing Pearl; you can find them here: https://blackwing602.com/products/blackwing-pearl-set-of-12 (no, I don’t make any money from this link)

Feel free to contact me at ron@valize.com, ron@uplandgroup.us or connect with me on LinkedIn atlinkedin.com/in/ronboire/ or Twitter @ronboire

Ron is a globally experienced organizational transformation specialist and leadership coach. His leadership has rapidly transformed underperforming businesses and operating groups as well as non-profits to create measurable results in extraordinarily short timeframes.  He has held C-level roles as CEO of Barnes & Noble, Sears Canada, and Brookstone, as well as senior leadership positions at Sony, Toys R Us, Sears Holdings, and Best Buy.

(C) 2024 Ron Boire

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