Zoom Out: Adapting Your Perspective
We have been conditioned throughout our lives to produce THE answer – a single, definitive answer to a question or problem. However, complex challenges rarely come with a singular, simple solution. While uncertainty can be seen as a threat or risk, embracing the discomfort is the new norm and we must lean into it as an expected part of the leadership process. A leader’s ability to navigate change, disruption and uncertainty is paramount in a world that has become increasingly turbulent and volatile.
Today’s issues have many interdependent elements that change in unpredictable ways and lead to unforeseen outcomes. While it can be tempting to break a challenge into various components to “solve,” this assumes that one has greater control over the problem at hand. It can also narrow your view and obscure your perspective. “Zooming out” can help leaders shine a light on assumptions that may not be visible from the trenches. An elevated vantage point can enable a view of larger patterns and inter-dependencies leading to adaptation, re-calibration, and new solutions. “Zooming out” can equip corporate real estate professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to emerge as thoughtful leaders who may not have the single answer but know how to ask the right questions.