
I have often heard leaders say they wish their people could see "The Bigger Picture." And too often I hear front-line workers lament over lack of transparency of their leaders or the company as a whole.
Why is the Bigger Picture Important?
For the leader seeing the bigger picture is important because we want our team members to be engaged and committed to the success of the organization resulting in:
· Improved Communication and Collaboration
· Efforts are aligned with the company’s mission, and priorities
· Improved decision making, and higher levels of initiative
· Ability and willingness to adapt to change
· Higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention
Ultimately resulting in greater productivity, profitability, and organizational growth.
For the employee the bigger picture is important because we want to understand how our efforts are contributing to the overarching efforts of the company. We want to feel a sense of purpose. We want a feeling of autonomy allowing for the ability to take initiative and to make decisions without having to ask permission. And we need to know it is ok to phone a friend to ask for guidance when necessary, and we want to feel like an important member of the team.
Signs that team members lack clarity of The Big Picture:
There are several indicators that employees might not be seeing the bigger picture of their team efforts. Recognizing these signs can help address team members proactively to ensure the team and its members are aligned with organizational goals:
Lack of Engagement: Employees seem disengaged or disinterested in meetings or team activities. They might not contribute ideas or feedback actively.
Tunnel Vision: Team members are heavily focused on their individual tasks without understanding how these contribute to larger goals. They might prioritize their work over collaborative efforts that benefit the team.
Poor Communication: There is frequent miscommunication or a lack of communication, indicating that employees may not fully understand the objectives and how their roles fit into achieving them.
Resistance to Change: Employees are resistant or indifferent to changes in strategy or process, possibly due to a lack of understanding of why those changes are necessary.
Misaligned Priorities: Team members might be working hard but on tasks that don’t align with the team’s strategic goals, indicating they don’t understand what is most important.
Lack of Initiative: When employees don't see beyond their immediate responsibilities, they may not take initiative to solve problems or improve processes, missing opportunities for innovation or efficiency.
Low Morale or Motivation: A lack of understanding of how their work impacts the bigger picture can lead to low morale and motivation, as employees might feel their efforts don’t matter.
If we want our team to see the Big Picture – We need to paint it for them
This requires leaders to provide Clarity, Alignment, and Engaged Leadership.
Addressing these issues often involves improving communication, aligning individual and team efforts and organizational objectives. To do this we recommend leaders practice Leading Through Intent.
When we lead through Intent Team Members:
· Know their role, understand how they fit, and are committed to the decisions of their leaders.
· Can make decisions that are aligned with company objectives without having to ask permission.
· Leaders have the information they need when they need to seize opportunities and respond to threat.
By practicing Leading Through Intent, we can create a culture of informed, autonomous decision-making that resonates with the company's objectives. When everyone is aligned with a shared understanding of our goals and purpose, the organization can thrive, achieving remarkable productivity, growth, and success.
Want to see how you can do this for your company team?
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