High beams or low beams?

High beam or low beams? Low beams are designed so that they don't blind cars in the opposite direction, and cars in front of you. High beams give you maximum visibility but they impact other drivers. So, unless you drive a car with auto-adjust for your headlights, you are responsible for clicking from high to low. 

In the windy mountains of Costa Rica, driving is an all-senses-on-high-alert experience. At night it becomes even more challenging. High beams can be life threatening, or life saving. In an instant a car can come around a curve with high beams on and blind you. Your high beams can do the same to others. Stick to low beams, and the roads can disappear on you. No time to problem solve; instant decision making. 

Thank goodness, solving problems and making decisions in the influence world are not life-threatening. Though, if you travel through your days with your low beams on, you may miss some potential opportunities or threats for our business. At the same time, keeping your high beams on all the time might blind others to your mission.

It’s up to you to develop a system for keeping just the right amount of light shining for your success. Bright enough to intuit what’s coming around the next curve without overwhelming anyone. Shine the high beams and clearly examine all possible sides of any “issue.” Look through the rear-view mirror to see how you handled previous bends in the road. Allow others to shed light through brainstorming. Implement a solution. And enjoy smooth driving ahead. 

Well-oiled teams may appear to be working with auto-adjust. Rest assured, there is someone assigned to click on the high beams in a moments notice. It can be life-saving. 

Today’s action: Examine your problem solving process when you are not in the midst of a crisis situation. Choose someone to be in charge of the light switch.