Your view may not always be the best…..another leadership road hazard!

This leadership hazard can be best described in the story of the happy beach swimmer. If you are on one of those crowded Southern California beaches with your friend soaking up the rays you have a limited view of things going on around you. The people next to you, the kids playing in the surf….the immediate dangers seem well within your control.

Down the beach a way their sits a lifeguard tower….Now the lifeguard has a much different view of the beach. Not only can they see you, the people next to you, and the kids playing in the surf, they can also see people swimming in the water, surfboards coming in fast, cars coming down the beach. They definitely have a “bigger” picture of the dangers you could be facing. They can even see people nearing danger and be in the water quickly to protect you from strong tides and undertows.

Now look out a little farther in the water up higher and you will see the Beach Patrol helicopter. Think about their view for a minute. They see you, the people next to you, the kids playing in the surf, surfboards, cars, sharks, and boats and their picture gets even “bigger” than you and the lifeguard combined. More advanced warning of impending doom to keep you safe.

So to avoid this leadership hazard in your business you need only to know that your view of the business hazards aren’t only what you can see but what those around and above you can see as well. In most cases just recognizing who has a better view of the business and accepting help can be a very successful leadership tactic.

If you are a server, in most cases, your view is limited to the scope of your tables.
If you are a department manager, your view is that of your shift or team
If you are a General Manager, you can see the whole business across all departments
If you are an Owner an even bigger perspective
If you are a Multi-Unit operator or Consultant you have numerous businesses to see and your view grows even larger
If you are a CEO, you see sometimes 100’s of operations giving you a clear view of different operating styles, results, and approaches.

If you are looking to avoid the dangers of the beach, sometimes you just have to find the highest vantage point. Don’t be afraid to look up and ask those above you what they see. Better safe than sorry!