Seeing Opportunities in Empty Spaces

In a recent article, Envoy CEO, Larry Gadea made what I thought was an interesting point. He referred to leaders who can see opportunity in empty spaces.

That got me thinking. Not about empty spaces but about leadership. Here are 2 ideas that might help you.

First, leaders who see opportunities in empty spaces see things others cannot see. To most people, these spaces appear to be without promise - unworthy of much attention.

But some leaders see opportunity in empty spaces like these. They see opportunities and possibilities hiding inside the emptiness.

Perhaps you’re pursuing an idea that looks like empty space to some people. Perhaps they think you’re crazy and don’t understand, but you see real possibilities.

Or maybe it’s not an idea. Maybe it’s you. In the eyes of others, you might not look all that impressive. But you see possibilities and opportunities in yourself. ?

When I was young, I felt like an empty space. I wasn’t that great at school, and my parents never thought I would amount to much. I was aware of their views, but I refused to accept them. I’m not an exceptional person, but I believe I was right in rejecting their opinion.

The second idea is this – seeing opportunity in empty spaces is as much about how we see as what we see. It’s about our mindset. The people who see opportunities have a different mindset from those who see only emptiness.

Now, we mustn’t take this to extremes and engage in wishful thinking or foolishness. Some spaces really are empty, and we need to recognise them for what they are.

But it’s important to develop the ability to look with the right mindset. We need to be able to discern where the opportunities lie.

If you struggle to have the right mindset, you can do something about it. I can help you. Reach out.

Having the right mindset is especially important for leaders. It’s not just what leaders think that's important (or how many people agree with them). It’s how leaders think. They can influence people for good if they think in adaptable, flexible, creative, and inspiring ways.

So, are you a leader who sees opportunities in empty spaces? It’s good if you are because you are an early adopter – you’re ahead of the game. But if you’re very much a work in progress, and would like some help, I may have some wisdom to share.

Dr Steve Barlow