Get the Lens That Gives You the Leadership Vision!
Helping Lawyers Speak With Confidence
It wasn’t long ago that I had my vision checked. I knew there was a problem, for my short-range vision was getting fuzzy, giving me headaches and concerns. Vain as it seems, I didn’t want to have my eyes checked. I knew that meant I’d also need to get new glasses, perhaps with bifocal lens, and then people would really see I am aging.
For all its vanity, that line of thinking slowly disintegrated after the optician put a lens and frame on my face, which she had selected, giving me a new perspective. These frames were the look of sophistication and class, not the old familiar pair of nondescript pattern. Ask anyone present who watched as the glasses were lifted to my face. They were impressed. What I saw in my observers’ eyes was attraction, awe, and amazement. Nothing I had expected, for I had only my own, old “frame” of reference to go on.
Getting used to my new frames, improved vision and better image wasn’t difficult. Not at all like I had imagined. Instead, I found this shift very rewarding. Not only did people respond differently to me, my focus was stronger and my head felt relief. What a great conclusion to my vision problem!
Notice what it took for me to see more clearly. I had to first understand the habits that were giving me problems – not getting enough clarity yet resisting the effective solution for fear of how it would make me “look” to others. Translation – I needed to create some new habits.
Secondly, I was living in a fog. Physically, mentally and emotionally, I just didn’t see things clearly. I needed to remove the fog. And then finally I had to see the bigger picture – take on perspective from others before coming to any conclusions on my own.
Leaders, just like me, must effectively see, or they won’t effectively lead. To do so, they must apply these same three principles.
- Practice habits that make you successful
- Remove the fog and clutter from your view
- Zoom out to see the big picture, the view from all angles, before creating a game plan.
If your habits are getting in your way from being effective, get some help. Find someone you can trust to guide you, challenge you and remind you of your purpose. This will lead to lining up habits that support what is important to you instead of just doing what is comfortable. For instance, I have the habit of doing too much and pushing too hard. When I operate from this habit, I never know when to say NO, I run behind schedule, and my impact on others is negative. Although it may be based on my best intentions, this habit gets in my way.
When we get involved with many things, are constantly running and never checking things off our “to do” list, chances are we are living in a fog. We can barely see what’s in front of us, and we are regularly stressing about seeing things through. It’s time to take a look at things from the distance to find out what is really important to us.
When we know what is important, we learn what to say YES to. Consequently, we then discover what to say NO to. We can clean up our schedules, stick to our priorities and finally begin to breath easier. We start to gain clarity and can then even begin to set goals.
As we work to solve problems, to inspire creativity or to reach the next level, we need to see things from many angles, especially with a neutral perspective. It’s with care that we do this around things we are passionate about – not easily accomplished, yet possible. Especially when we engage the views of others. People around us are key to our ability to grow as a leader. Whether they are sharing their needs, engaging in teamwork or offering suggestions, to shut them down is to limit our leadership.
As a leader, regularly seek more vision. Ask yourself some smart questions:
What habits are getting in the way of your success?
- Notice what activities you spend much of your time around. Which ones are distracting you from your focus?
- What habits could you develop to stay more on track?
What is your plan for your own professional development?
- How do you plan to effectively manage yourself?
- How do you plan to lead others?
Who do you know that can mentor or guide you, giving you skills or knowledge you lack?
- Consider peers, supervisors and other industry leaders who can give you trade knowledge
- Consider outside sources who can give unbiased, neutral perspectives that help you manage self and lead others
If you’re foggy about anything, seek mentoring, coaching, an accountability partner to give you another lens. Get your vision checked and have others around to give you regular feedback!
