Do you ever feel like you’re drowning in to-dos or constantly putting out fires for your team and never feel that you’re moving forward? You’re not alone. In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind and lose sight of the bigger picture. But what if I told you there’s a better way?
The Secret Weapon of Effective Leaders
When we hone in solely on the “weeds” of our daily lives, we can lose sight of the big picture and veer off the path to our Life Purpose. Effective leadership requires pulling back our focus and shifting it to the Long View, stepping back from the daily chaos, and looking ahead to the future. Think of it like this: instead of focusing on the individual trees, you’re appreciating the entire forest. This shift in perspective allows you to:
- Gain clarity: See beyond the immediate tasks and understand where you truly want to go.
- Reduce stress: By understanding the bigger picture, you can prioritize effectively and let go of the need to control every tiny detail.
- Make better decisions: When you know your ultimate destination, you can make informed choices that align with your long-term vision and Life Purpose.
- Build Confidence & Increase Resilience: Obstacles become less daunting when you view them as temporary setbacks and know you can handle whatever comes your way.
The Long View in Action
I once had an incredibly task-oriented client whose life was bogged down by her agenda and overflowing to-do list. Her consistent busyness added to the stress of driving her organization to succeed, leading to burnout and overwhelm. As we focused on the Long View during our sessions, she was able to tap into a more profound understanding, giving her a better vantage point to strategize and understand her team’s needs and opportunities in the market to take bold action guided by her values and intuition.
Once she tapped into her Long View during our sessions, she built the skill to shift vantage points throughout the day, allowing her to tap into her profound knowing at a moment’s notice to focus on what was truly important when the busyness felt like it was beginning to build up.
The ability to quickly return to her Long View, has helped her banish overwhelm and lead her team with more ease and confidence.
Your Long View Becomes Your Compass
Just as you would check in with a compass and map if traversing a deep forest with no GPS, your Long View becomes your true north, helping you make minor adjustments as you journey down your path.
As you continue to shift your focus and leverage the Long View, you will become better equipped to gain clarity when under pressure or in times of need. This helps you and your team to take bolder action and make impactful decisions.
Embrace the Unexpected
Finally, remember that your Long View helps guide your path, but as is life, obstacles may block your way, and detours may become necessary. If you continue to check into your Long View, you may see that these challenges can provide valuable learnings to help you on your journey, and they’ll remain as only minor distractions on your path to living your full potential.
Are you Ready to Gain a New Vantage Point?
Here are a few sample questions I use to help my clients access their Long-View and lead with intention.
- What are your long-term goals and aspirations?
- What truly inspires you?
- How can you prioritize your tasks to align with your greater vision?
- Knowing what you know now, what are your most important goals?
By focusing on the Long View, you can lead with purpose, clarity, confidence, and resilience.
