Suppose you’re stuck in a big traffic jam on your way to an important meeting. You consider taking an alternate route but don’t know if that’s going to be any better.
A navigation device or app can help you find the fastest route. But how does it know the fastest route and you don’t?
We wouldn’t go into technical details of how navigation systems work but here is a simple explanation to consider.
Based on the location data (and speed) of different vehicles, it calculates the fastest route. The navigation system can see the bigger picture you can’t.
In life, we’re too much focused on things at a micro level that we often fail to see the big picture.
Money and status vs. personal satisfaction. Going with general trend vs forming our own opinions. The daily office politics vs. the overall career direction. How about not seeing your career in isolation and thinking about life more holistically?
Leaders whose main role is to look at the big picture for the company, often fall into the trap of micro-level thinking. Focusing on short term profits rather than building something that lasts. Or, being too much aligned to the interests of shareholders rather than the entire set of stakeholders.
There is no doubt that one needs an understanding of things at the micro level but every now and then it’s worth looking at the big picture.