I’m heading to a week of learning next week.

I’m not sure what to expect. Because whilst it’s a learning experience, I’m driving the learning.

I’ve known about this week of learning for over 5 months.

During that period, I’ve been thinking about the programme and the session I’ll be ‘leading’. And now that there’s a week left, I realize I’ve been thinking in an overthinking way.

What is Overthinking?

Overthinking for me means thinking around something that you have the parts for, or the data for, or the objective for – but without really getting to the crux of what’s important.

For me, the overthinking comes from wondering about variables that I don’t control – or from assumptions.

And whilst I think about how I can handle the uncontrollables – such as in the context of the learning programme: Who might attend the session, what their thoughts on the topic are, and what their expectations are – I may dwell on my concerns about this.

I may also make assumptions about their judgments of me, the topic I’ve chosen, and how I’m presenting it.

This can easily turn into an exercise best described as, ‘Ruminations on what can go wrong’.

Clearly, I am not channeling the ruminations in a constructive manner. I’m ‘extremizing’ them.

This sounds like: No one will understand. No one will find this interesting. I’ll never make any progress….

My rational brain has been telling me: It’s time for a pause – and a constructive mind pivot.

(But I’ve not been really listening to my rational brain much.)

Now, though, I am ready to take time for underthinking.

What’s A Simple Approach to Underthinking?

I asked myself a few questions.

Taking my learning programme as an example: It’s a learning programme – what do I want to learn?! (Yes, I want to engage the audience, but this is for my learning and growth).

What are questions on my mind about the topic? If these questions are on my mind, are they probably on others’ minds too?

How can I attract the people with relevant insights to the session? What is a simple hook and how do I best communicate both the value they may get and the value I’m seeking?

And Andrea, remember – it’s only 75 minutes.

Based on this, and knowing something of how to engage audiences, I designed the session using a few key questions as hooks, with a few interactive, hands-on activities in an approach I am calling: Share – Sample – Survey.

• Share some objectives and key data around this.
• Allow participants to sample the experience.
• Survey participants for feedback.

Get Help!

I didn’t move from overthinking to underthinking by myself.

I asked for help.

I shared where I was in terms of my thinking (highly confused) and feelings (pretty anxious) with a colleague.

She showed me this picture – and chunked it down with me to allow for underthinking – not overthinking.

Share (with yourself or others)

What’s the core objective – the ideal result you want? What value do you possess to move to that objective? (Strengths, data, connections, material resources)

Sample

Bring to life your objectives – allow people to sample your ideas, or create a trial or a tangible experience for them to ‘taste’.

Survey

Get their feedback. Listen and say thank you.

There is always a learning in feedback.

It’s an approach that you can use in any situation – from difficult conversations, to product ideation, to process reviews.

So what opportunities exist for you to underthink?

A final request – when you’ve completed the process, relinquish the thinking and get to it.