Do You See the Gorillas?
Today’s Tuesday Reading is a short article -- Do You See the Gorillas? (download) -- I recently came across in Forum Insights, a publication of the FORUM Group[*].
The piece focuses on execution, that is on getting results, in the midst of change. The authors point out that “Excellence in execution demands leaders who can see through the blinders to observe:
A lack of alignment between strategic intent and the reality of people’s behavior
Unnecessary process complexity
The next wave of marketplace change headed straight for their organization.”
As an example, the article points out that when we focus intently on one thing we may loose track of other contemporary events. [You can find the video that is referenced at http://viscog.beckman.illinois.edu/flashmovie/15.php.] The point if that while focus is extremely important, focus at the exclusion of a broader view can be deadly. And, if we're honest, we can all recall when we have done just that!
As you will see “Gorillas are those issues, surfaced or unsurfaced, ignored or unseen, that have the potential to blindside or strangle.” Don’t fall into the trap of ignoring the gorilla, assuming that its presence is benign. Deal with it so that your attention does not continue to be diverted.
So, the bottom line advice: Make a practice of removing your blinders so that you can see the "gorillas" that are in the way of you delivering results in midst of the disruptive change that is now surrounding us.
. . . . . jim
[*] One sentence in the piece talks about the way Forum enables their clients. Use of this article as a Tuesday Reading is not a recommendation of their services.