Overthinking Operator
Your self-expression style aligns with the Overthinking Operator. You are working so hard. You have deep expertise and know all the depths of detail that goes into your daily work. You value authenticity and want to be seen as genuine and also want to be persuasive. You are a deep thinker and long for the space to process information on your feet.
You are truly closest to the work and know the best solutions for any problems but struggle to trust your ability to articulate your ideas with concise clarity. When you’re asked to talk about your work or give an update on a project, you’re unsure how much detail to give or where to start.
You don’t think about thinking when you’re in your element but when you’re put on the spot, you become overly analytical. You are a systems thinker and prioritize structure in your work but find spontaneous communication without preparation intimidating. You over-prepare or script so you don’t miss detail but then criticize yourself for being long-winded or rambling.
You compare yourself to confident communicators who speak with clarity and vision but find that working harder only makes it more difficult to express yourself. You are exhausted from working too hard but scared that if you stop you will fail to deliver at the same caliber.
You have a lot of thoughts and have a tendency to speak fast to keep up with them. This makes it challenging for your audience to follow you and causes you to think ahead or over-complicate your responses. You’re far more comfortable in written form and appreciate the time you can take when responding to an email or Slack. You wish you could cultivate that depth of thought on your feet but struggle to think on your feet with fluidity.
This style can be enhanced by simplifying your focus in the moment. Instead of giving too much detail or wondering where to start, choose a defined point to center and start there. I call this my golden nugget—it’s a word or a phrase that encapsulates my response. Think of it like a headline or your main point. This streamlines your thought process and simplifies your response for your audience. It also helps you and your audience know the most important thing to remember, which improves comprehension.
Can I change my communication style?
Our self-expression style is rarely innate or fixed. It’s the combination of our lived experience, societal feedback, and natural tendencies. Communication is dynamic and it changes with each audience and interaction. Instead of believing that your style is fixed and stagnant, change what you’re focusing on in the moment—this changes up your approach. If you tend to over-think under pressure, simplify and streamline your thought process by choosing the most important point you want your audience to remember.
You will inevitably return to your habitual style, and when you do, refocus on your golden nugget (that one word or phrase that is the essence of your answer) so you slow down and remain present with your audience.
Instead of vilifying habits or beating yourself up, remember that your power lives in your presence, not perfection. Keep practicing and see your self-expression style as a muscle to strengthen, not some plateau to achieve.
