Do You See the Hole or the Whole?
by Miki SaxonWhen you evaluate a task or project to you see the whole or the hole?
Most people are adept at seeing the hole, i.e., what needs to be added in order to succeed. What’s missing can include scope, skills, resources, etc.
Unlike donuts, holes don’t enhance your projects. Being sure the hole is filled is important, but it’s also difficult to fill it if you don’t also see the whole.
The whole is the overview of how that particular project fits into the larger picture. Understanding that helps you to identify and address the entire hole, so you don’t end up having to go back and fix the part of the hole you missed or, worse, move on leaving an unnoticeable hole that turns into a sinkhole down the road.
Seeing the whole means taking time to understand not just your own position/area, but the functions of those around you and how they all interact, your company’s competitors and trends in your market.
More work? Yes.
A pain in the wazoo? Yes.
The benefits to you, your team and your company? Priceless.
Stock.xchang image credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/758343