Written by: Vickie Sullivan  |  May 18, 2023

2 Tactics to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace

As expected, the recent meeting of the Women’s Leadership Board at Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was action-packed.

Kenji Yoshino, legal scholar and co-author of the book Say the Right Thing: How to Talk About Identity, Diversity, and Justice, kicked off the day with great practical information about how to handle sticky situations. Plus, he provided a master class in how to best position yourself in a marketplace crowded with ideas.

As you are likely aware, cancel culture is a hot-button issue, filled with emotional appeals. Yoshino has a unique and helpful perspective on the issue that helps him stay above the fray.

2 Ways to Stand Out in a Crowded Marketplace

Here are two things that he does to stand out in a noisy marketplace that you can copy:

1. Focus on what’s missing: Instead of trying to dominate the overall issue of allyship, Yoshino focused on what was missing for the players in the marketplace. What he found: There’s plenty of help for folks on the receiving end, but there isn’t enough to help allies be better. He decided to focus on what wasn’t addressed, rather than jamming a new idea in an environment already noisy with analysis.
2. Reframe the emotional journey: Yoshino addressed the question of whether cancel culture is going too far by looking at the bigger picture. He focused on the interactions between the source, the affected person, and the ally. By highlighting the “musical chairs” dynamic between all three, he introduced a new source of empathy that paves the way for an attention-getting “shame-free” approach. He also dodged the too-noisy question of, “How can the recipient handle these situations?”

The result: Yoshino found a lane within a crowded hot-button issue that he could create a movement around.

Listen: Common Mistakes People Make When Picking a Lane

Often, thought leaders believe their methodology allows them to stand out. The truth is, where you place yourself in the marketplace is more important. You need to own your corner of the conversation, not dominate the entire environment.

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