Contents:
The issue with conforming to normal behavior is that the majority are conforming to it as well.
When you make a habit out of consistently being politically correct, you by nature stand out less than the brash people around you. The effects of being bold, loud, and potty-mouthed are perceived differently depending on the setting you find yourself in. At the office for example, word can travel fast. The bold things you do start to define you, and your dealings with colleagues may start becoming primed with their interpretation of your bombastic nature.
At the local basketball court though, you’ll find some colorful personalities. There will be people who yell, holler, and flail. They’ll throw a curse word in every other sentence that they say, all while the ones around them are magically drawn to their personalities.
Is there a way to experience the benefits of being loud, bold, and brash in settings which aren’t typically encouraging of such acts? The decision to stand out from the crowd in more conservative environments is plagued by a fear of your gamble going south. Do you conform to normality and the typical way of delivering your ideas and risk not being heard? Or do you forcefully stand out from the crown and risk being downplayed and punished?
Attention Without the Backlash
The answer to this dilemma seems to lie somewhere in between. Being brash out of nowhere seems to play to one’s advantage when they have a proven track record of being diplomatic and politically correct. Somebody like the Pope cursing will draw your attention much more effectively than a person who is known for cursing and being brash on a regular basis. In essence, in order to have a more colorful approach to conversation work for you, establishing a reputation opposite to that seems to be an important prerequisite. If you want to draw the attention of an audience which has overlooked and perhaps grown bored with how you typically deliver the information that you present, you can use brashness to your advantage.
When you feel like your ideas demand more attention that they are getting, you can use a colorful choice of vocabulary to draw attention to them. Express your desire to be heard by being brash and bold at a time when it is least expected.
Mitigating the Reaction
The reaction you get from your audience will be first met with surprise, and then acceptance if you play your cards right. The initial surprise to brash behavior coming from somebody who does not typically act in such a way is self-explanatory. Anger can follow in a setting where such behavior is strictly looked down upon. The measure of how angrily the listening party will react to you being brash is a major point to consider when debating whether or not to act in unprofessional fashion. If you hold your position /frame when your audience’s attention is successfully drawn to you, your chances of a successful attempt will increase. Try to envision how difficult it would be to hold your ground in the face of any backlash to your act of being brash. If you suspect it to be difficult, then reevaluate your methodology.
A brash moment on your part can play a large role in winning the battle of attention against your boring, traditional competitors. You may be questioned on your behavior, but if your underlying messages which you are trying to get across are of sound mind, then the arrogant behavior you exhibit to have them heard will be forgiven.