See the forest and the trees

Marrying someone far more intelligent than you is fun isn't it? Looking at my wife I often feel like I must be the real life human version of a cat meme or video to her. She watches and hangs around for the amusement my antics bring.

Today we were discussing a motivational video focused on everyone having a gift and how you must at some point in your life jump for your gift (as a parachute) to open. That is how one lives life as opposed to merely existing. A great message honestly.

So we went down the rabbit hole of chat that involves my unique gift of being engaged in wild conversation by random strangers. Seriously, people I do not know will cross the road to start up wild conversations with me. Want to hear the latest crazed conspiracy theory? Want to hear about the trip to the ER for a third cousin on their dad's side from the person in line at lunch? Just go with me, its a guarantee you'll hear about it from someone who decides I'm a good ear.

Then the moment that leads us here ... my wife says, "Your gift is leadership and the ability to see the correct order of things. You see the forest and the trees."

See the forest and trees. That's a leadership lesson for the ages bundled into five simple words.

About two years ago my company was in some turmoil. A couple of new executive suite leaders joined. One was a visionary. They could connect high-level dots most of us didn't see there at all. They could sell an idea and bring excitement. They sold the forest. The problem? They could not have cared less about the details or the people required to make the vision happen. They couldn't (wouldn't?) see the trees nor did they even care the trees were part of the forest. They didn't stay with us even a year.

Flip side, I once worked for someone who would spend days toiling over the details of the configuration for a single piece of network equipment. Again and again, over and over. Project dates would slip and members of the team would become frustrated waiting for the next steps. They became so focused on a tree they forgot about the forest. The department under them was a revolving door of new faces, none staying very long.

Those two quick examples show, I think quite clearly, being an effective and efficient leader requires an ability to see the big picture while not losing touch of the individual nuances making up the image. Put another way you must understand not only the goal, but the steps to achieve that goal. You must see the forest and the trees.

I feel my better half gives me far more credit than my experience to this point justifies, but it is the goal to which I strive each and every day.

Those of you leading successful projects and teams, share your experiences. How have you seen the forest without losing sight of the trees?