So Hannah, why do so many talented leaders and professionals hesitate to speak up even when they know they have something valuable to contribute?

That's a great question.

And I think the way that I'm framing it is like why, why do humans, period, right? Why would anyone, business owner, leader, public servant, server at a restaurant, janitor, why du- why do humans not speak up when they feel like they have something valuable to say? Short answer, I don't know.

I'm not an expert.

Longer answer, my hypothesis is there's a myriad of different things that block people from communicating their truth, be it imposter syndrome, lack of self-worth, fear of how others are going to respond and judge them.

I think that's one of the most common ones, is how am I going to be perceived? Am I going to be judged? And I think fear of perception keeps a lot of people from authenticity.

Um, and so yeah, I, I would argue that leaders and, and people in positions of power may feel uncomfortable speaking up about any given thing when their reputation or perception feels threatened, and not knowing how it's gonna be perceived because we can't manage how people perceive us, but social media tricks us into thinking that we can.

Mm.