Yesterday I wrote about brand and how powerful, from a personal perspective, setting a clear and positive image for yourself can be. But it is hard, not only to define yourself succinctly without using convoluted language that doesn't mean anything, but also to alter the communication habits of 20+ years to spin more positive.

I'm the guy who hears the people other people are tired of listening to. It seems I befriend the people nobody else likes. I am intrigued by people who are different. I have a distrust of the overly positive. My feeling has always been that the majority, the popular, don't need any more cheerleaders--they have control of the agenda already.

When I start to talk in a positive manner, I hear the inner critic so loudly that I feel compelled to answer the objections right away. It is hard to step back and just let it go and deal with the real objections, not the imagined ones because I expect criticism, I expect harsh, judgmental, reaction. On my other blog, I worked hard to remain a neutral in some of our recent conflicts and probably made my life harder. I worried a lot about what I said and did. I probably gave more credit to the minority of easily upset agitators than perhaps they deserved. In doing so, I may have created the impression that I'm also an opponent. But again, the world doesn't need another cheerleader.

But I am beginning to realize that maybe we need "better cheerleaders" and I should focus on that. I recall, in college, a workshop on presentations where the presenter said you should tailor your presentation differently for a supportive vs hostile crowd. For the supportive crowd, get right to the point with what action you want, then support it. But for the hostile crowd, address the objections first--build your argument towards the conclusion so that people are not immediately thinking of how they are going to ask questions to derail your recommendations.

Emphasize the positive and deal with the objections that actually happen. Add to the conversation and discussion in a way that nudges the discussion in the direction you want. I'm the classic "objector" the guy who finally speaks when half the room is about ready to storm out in anger and frustration...or more typically, the guy who agrees with the overall plan and wants to help by raising and helping deal with the contentious issues early instead of allowing the presenter to go on and on, losing the audience. Maybe I need to preface my comments with "hey, I'm on your side" first.

Sorry folks, this is a rather theoretical digression. (There I go again!) My ultimate point here is that creative people are often highly critical and we all need to figure out how to channel that impulse so that people see us as constructive, positive agents, not gadflys.