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Myopic Leaders?

Written by: Douglas Long

Article Overview: Scanning the overall environment in which you are working to ascertain threats and opportunities. A mindset that is constantly trying to position the organisation in a place where it can deal with any threats and take advantage of any opportunities. A broad vision rather than leadership myopia. The constant need for a leader to be creating and sustaining an environment in which everyone can be successful.

Myopic Leaders?

I Live in Sydney, Australia. Sydney's roads (like those of most other major cities) are usually crowded and there are seldom enough lanes to satisfy drivers trying to get from point A to point B. The problem is compounded when cars are allowed to stop and/or park by the kerb with the result that another traffic lane is taken out of play.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not against the use of cars and I don't oppose parking in shopping precincts (even when it means parking at the side of the road) and I'm not trying to redesign Sydney's roads so that they are wider and can take more traffic. No, my concern is with people who don't seem to pay much attention to the impact their stopped or parked car has on other traffic.

Think about it.

How often do you see a car come to a stop and, with no apparent attention to the traffic, the driver's door opens and, sometimes after what seems to be an eternity, a person slowly alights and does whatever else they intend to do. Sometimes this "whatever else they intend to do" includes opening the passenger door on the same side and allowing children to alight with traffic streaming past. All too often this will involve a parent getting a baby out of a baby capsule or a child out of a safety seat which is a process that takes a fair bit of time - all the while with the door open and endangering both those at the car and passing traffic. In even worse cases the process will be further delayed while the parent attends to their child's needs such as changing a diaper.

I have a lot of understanding of where the parent is coming from - I have 5 children (now all grown up) and 4 grandchildren - but I am constantly concerned that thought is not paid to the dangers of tending children or allowing passengers to alight under such a dangerous manner. A bit of thought and planning when getting people into the car and/or when reaching one's destination means that dealing with baby or children and allowing passengers to alight can be performed much more safely for everyone when done from the doors of the car closest to the kerb. It just requires a bit of thought and foresight. No "rocket science" involved.

Many leaders in politics, business, religious groups, and society at large seem to have the same "not thinking" attitude when it comes to their operations. Like parents and responsible drivers - most of whom genuinely care for their children's / passengers' safety - either they do things that are inherently dangerous or they allow their people to take risks that could and should be avoided. Elliott Jaques ("Requisite Organization", 1998, Cason Hall & Co) talks about the need for managers and leaders to consider the broader picture as well as the immediate issues being dealt with. In fact he makes the point that if you can't see the bigger picture and deal with things from a broader perspective, you probably shouldn't be in a management or leadership role.

Leaders (even parents and car drivers) need to look around and see the bigger picture.

Sometimes this is easier to say than to do.

I don't know any parent who would willingly put their child at risk. (They may exist but I'm not aware of ever meeting one.) When they are to go out, invariably a parent goes down to the car and carefully ensures that their child is secure. To do this they use whichever door is most convenient depending on how and where the car is parked and other variables such as the amount of space in which they have to work. From experience I know that sometimes this involves dealing with children who are fractious and not particularly keen on making mum or dad's job any easier. The emphasis is on getting the child safe and secure in the car - not on what will happen a little later when the child has to be got out of the car or otherwise attended to.

And the metaphor applies in the business arena. Entrepreneurs, at least and perhaps even more than managers in established organisations, are juggling all sorts of complicated issues and trying to get the immediate done. Sometimes this pressure means that thinking ahead goes by the wayside. Its easy for "the red zone" (see The Brain of a Leader, Brains Complexity Leaders, Leadership: a No Brainer, Neuroscience and Leadership) can easily take over and short term expediency takes precedent over longer term considerations.

What I'm talking about is different from planning.

I'm talking about scanning the overall environment in which you are working to ascertain threats and opportunities. I'm talking about a mindset that is constantly trying to position the organisation in a place where it can deal with any threats and take advantage of any opportunities. I'm talking about a broad vision rather than leadership myopia. I'm talking about the constant need for a leader to be creating and sustaining an environment in which everyone can be successful.

This requires a "blue zone" area of brain control. When a person is operating in this area:

• They contribute creative and innovative ideas
• They help others develop a shared sense of what is really important
• They spend time helping others with their personal learning issues
• They show consistency between espoused values and personal behaviour
• They seek out challenging opportunities for people to grow, innovate, and improve
• They focus on a better future
• They are able to communicate complicated ideas clearly
• They show empathy and concern when dealing with others
• They experiment with new concepts and procedures
• They facilitate the building of collaborative approaches
• They foster positive relationships with the broader community
• They present others with a positive approach to change
• They communicate excitement about future possibilities
• They ensure that those who did the work get the credit
• They deal with conflict in a positive and creative manner
• They share information and knowledge widely and appropriately

They are leaders.

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Article Tags: blue zone, broad vision, effective leadership, Elliott Jaques, leadership, mindset, myopia, neuroleadership, red zone



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