Have you ever been told that there are two sorts of people – the big picture thinkers and the detail-oriented types? It’s a tempting philosophy in business communication. Some people do better at vision and strategy and grand ambitions. Others are happiest dealing with very technical information and lots of data. But as a business leader, picking one trait or the other is a luxury you can’t afford.
Painting the big picture helps people understand your dreams. It breeds excitement and encourages an emotional connection that drives better results.
Answering detailed questions from other people helps prove your competence. And asking the right questions of your team and being able to probe their answers are essential management skills.
20:20 eyesight
When I was 13, I was caught copying from a friend’s book because I couldn’t see the blackboard. The optician diagnosed me as short-sighted. But nobody thought I should stop trying to read the teacher’s writing. I’ve worn contact lenses ever since so that I can read at a distance and do everything else without handicap.
More recently I started struggled to read books through my contact lenses (the perils of middle age!). It took a lot of trial and error to find a workable solution. But now I wear one contact lens to see at a distance, and use the other eye to see things near at hand. My brain has learned to use the two different inputs remarkably well and automatically adjusts to whichever image is better focused. I am rarely conscious of the process and it has become automatic.
Correcting your vision
A good business leader operates in the same way, switching between the long term view and the short term detail seamlessly. You may naturally be much better at one than the other, but don’t accept it as unchangeable. You can learn both sets of skills. Inspire people with the big picture, and establish credibility by handling detailed questions competently.
Leadership training can address specific gaps, or ongoing mentoring can help you learn from past experience and prepare for important events such as investor presentations, high-value customer meetings or all-company updates.
If you worry that your business communication is less than 20:20, get in touch to see how I can help. Book a free 15 minute initial chat to explore further.