The business environment isn’t getting any less challenging. Uncertainty is here to stay. Stuff will always happen and there will always be relationships to manage. Perspective is a tool that can really help manage everything thrown at us, writes Kate Burke*.
Here’s three practical ways that adding perspective to your management tool kit can make dealing with uncertainty less stressful.
In my recent travels around Victoria, I’ve spent time on flat plains, alpine valleys and over the airwaves and then down to the big smoke of Melbourne. Each perspective made me think differently.
Professor Malcolm from the University of Melbourne says sophisticated thinking and simple figuring – with a few perspectives, a few disciplines and a few futures is all that’s required for good farm business management analysis.
Perspective is ‘insurance’ against sophisticated analysis followed by simple thinking. The data analysis is only one part of financial analysis. It’s what happens after the analysis that matters most. The brain is in a hurry and uses assumptions and unconscious bias to draw a conclusion quickly. Perspective is a circuit breaker for the short-cuts our brain wants to make.
In my strategic work with businesses, much time is spent on building muscles to flex perspective.
Zooming out is critical to maintain perspective in a crisis.
Zooming in is critical when attention to detail is required.
At work we are in a constant dynamic of zooming in and zooming out. If we get stuck in ‘big picture’ mode, there’s a risk of not executing in a timely manner. If we stay too bogged in detail, one can lose sight of the end goal.
Here’s an example of how my perspective was challenged and regained recently.
Active termites are eating our house. Yes, we’ve been literally white-anted. In my head, the world was going to end. We had been violated by these subterranean terrorists.
It was my fault. I had failed as keeper of the castle and proud homeowner. What would my family think?
And it was all my husband’s fault. (Thankfully, I didn’t share that sentiment out loud, but my general irritation probably made it loud and clear – ouch).
It was the termite inspector’s fault. Why didn’t they find them last inspection (probably because they weren’t there)?
It was the dog’s fault – how dare Pat the dog want a walk when I am dealing with a crisis! Stop looking at me with those droopy eyes.
A few days later, perspective returned. It’s minor damage. We have a treatment plan that won’t bankrupt us, we live in great spot with gorgeous surrounds and are very fortunate to lead a privileged life.
Maintaining perspective is a skill that takes practice like any muscle building exercise. And it’s a skill that contributes to business resilience especially when challenged by drought, flood or other business shocks.
And there will be lapses when unexpected things happen. A range of resilience strategies built up over the years helped the perspective return – I did something I enjoyed (walking the dog), I got some space and thought about what was going right rather than what was going wrong.
Learning to maintain perspective really is a business game changer.
Recently at golf we teed off the blue tees, traditionally the “men’s tees”. I saw the course in a whole new light compared to my usual green tee perspective.
Farm and small business family and team members who can see each other’s perspective don’t waste time trying to be the one who’s right. They reach decisions much quicker and get things done on time. Viewing customers perspective when formulating advice makes the advice more effective.
On the other hand, when each person is welded to their own perspective and unwilling to budge, non-decision making can plague the business and business relationships for years.
Part of my role in strategy and mentoring work is to chisel off the welding and encourage individuals to see the other perspective. Sometimes we get there, sometimes we don’t. When we do, the results for the family, the business and the team are amazing – happy, productive and profitable people.
*Dr Kate Burke – author of ‘Crops People Money and You, The Art of Excellent Farming and Better Returns’ – is an ag scientist, agri strategist, educator and speaker. Her book outlines a road map for sustainable profit taking and legacy making with less stress. Visit www.thinkagri.com.au
