I’ve often found it interesting that the CEO of a small, relatively simple company can be completely harried and often distracted. Yet the CEO of a large, complex operation can be relaxed, focused and on point most of the time.

It can be very difficult for the first CEO to believe that any other reality is possible. The latter CEO, usually, knows full well that other realities are possible and works hard to choose and create the one he or she wants.

It’s the outside perspective, that another reality is possible, that can help the first CEO begin to break free. To get out of their tunnel. To stop playing an endless cosmic game of Wack-a-Mole.

The average executive who I talk to feels like they are stuck, endlessly hammering little moles: Meetings, routines, work crisis, staff issues, lawsuits (or threat of), big projects, urgent opportunities…

They don’t have the energy for creative thinking or problem-solving. They don’t feel they have the time to work preventatively – so they work reactively.

They fall victim to Wack-a-Mole leadership. Feeling like they are required to stand there, hypervigilant, and whack problems as they occur.

An outside perspective allows you to answer important Wack-a-Mole questions like:

• Can you actually win a game of Wack-a-Mole?
• What is your purpose in playing the game?
• Who made the rules and who says you need to follow them?
• Is there any ethical reason to not just unplug the game? Or hold a board over the Moles so none can pop up?

Point is, leaders fall into a routine informed and shaped by real and imagined responsibilities, needs, and expectations of others.

Why You Need an Outside Perspective

Break up rutted thinking: Have you ever started on an errand, and then a couple of turns later, realize you are actually on the route to work?

As leaders, habits can be enormously powerful tools for helping us be more productive and focused.

If they are the right habits.

Sometimes they aren’t. Or, they were the right habits to get us where we are – but they aren’t the right habits to get us where we want to be.

An outside perspective can help us get out of ruts that may no longer be serving us well.

Build new strengths:  The body, brain, and relationships are naturally lazy.

In fitness, when we first start a new workout regimen, it’s hard and takes a lot of effort. However, if you stay in the same routine – you’ll end up getting very good and efficient at that routine.

It no longer takes the same kind of effort to complete the routine. Which is great if you are learning a skill – not great if you are trying to build strength or burn calories.

To build new levels of strength (or keep burning calories) we need change. It’s the same in our mental growth and in our work (or any other) relationships. We need some kind of new input, nearly always from the outside, that either challenges us to change our pace, change our form or change our workout altogether.

Expose new opportunities: I’ve always been impressed at how I can look at a specific situation a thousand times, believe I understand it well, and then meet someone who approaches it completely differently. And more effectively.

New eyes help us see new opportunities. Perhaps in how we work. Perhaps in potential partnerships. Perhaps in innovation.

Identify potential challenges: Outside perspectives help us identify and avoid challenges we may not see coming. Our experience may feel very unique and special to us – but it’s possible that others have seen it before. We might have something to learn from them that could save us an expensive or tiring lesson.

How to Get and Maintain an Outside Perspective

In order of lowest effort, investment and (sometimes) impact to highest:

1. Reading books and listening to podcasts: Especially on topics that we don’t normally read about or from people who think differently than we do.
2. Attending conferences: Find conferences with speakers who can help you see differently – and especially conferences who attract attendees who are excelling in an area you want to grow.
3. Unplugged Vacations: Some people find these easy to take. Most leaders never really unplug. Just as athletes need to rest to be able to grow. Leaders need to rest to restore creative thinking and visionary perspectives.
4. Leadership Roundtables/Mastermind Groups: These are groups of peers, sometimes in the same industry, sometimes not, who meet regularly to help each other grow. They are usually facilitated and often have access to outside speakers or thought leaders.
5. Outside Advisor: The right advisor, often a paid coach or consultant, will often have a very broad outside perspective and can quickly help you zero in on changes or growth that you want to pursue.
6. Send to External Training: Sending someone to be trained in a different environment or context can help introduce new ideas to your organization. You have to be prepared to explore or engage the new ideas that come back.
7. External Leadership: The simplest (but not always easy) way to get an outside perspective is to hire external leadership or bring in external leaders or advisors for your board.

Take good care,

Christian

Opportunity for an Outside Perspective

Are you facing an unfamiliar challenge? Perhaps rapid growth? Leadership changes? Would you like to confidently address those issues and end 2018 strong?

If your answer is YES, I have a few slots on my calendar to schedule a one-on-one call and offer an outside perspective.

On the call, I’ll explore your situation with you and then offer one or two key strategies that will help you move forward.

Interested? Email me at Christian@vantageconsulting.org or call me at 907 522-7200 or simply hit REPLY to this email now.

My New Book!: Conflict and Leadership is available on Amazon. Read what others are saying:

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