So how long have you been blind?

What is distracting you from getting better??

What obvious challenges are you missing? Have you developed complacency and didn't even know it? How many cobwebs have you missed this week? What areas of your workplace have you become “blind” to because they are never addressed? Where are those frayed yellow post-it notes with outdated “to-do” items written on them? Every employee, every organization, and every team has areas they no longer pay attention to. Often these areas hold hidden opportunities to improve the flow of a process or improve the overall standing of a team or group.?

When returning to an organization after a three-year hiatus, my boss asked me this question “Kyle, I have been here too long, and I no longer see the cobwebs; I need you to see them for me.” This became a yearlong endeavor for me as I looked, searched, and walked the processes, finding more cobwebs along the way. My #1 discovery was the “this is how we always do it” excuse. While the recency of the return would appear that I was new, the underlying truth was that I served for over a decade in the organization before my departure, so I had first-hand knowledge of the fallacy of that statement. Regardless of the error, the complacency that was present was palatable.?

Individual personalities can start the process, but those who work with those processes must carry the vision to its completion. Complacency impacts everyone, and although continuity is excellent, it breeds complacency, “we already tried that, and it didn't work,” and “This is how we have always done it” all these statements find their way into organizational structure and the supporting staff. The effort required to jump-start an organization past this stronghold is tremendous but always worthwhile. As I completed my task at the end of that first year, we moved forward, solidified new processes, and enabled a fresh start to many initiatives that had stalled. This was not to my credit but to those who stepped up and decided to look deeper than they had in the past.?

Sometimes it is not complacency but the role of “firefighter” that creates temporary blindness. Are you reacting to every contingency like the actual building is on fire? Does your boss or co-workers always come to you to solve all the emerging challenges? Is your organization riding you like a cheap dirt bike? Being the “go-to” person can be tremendously rewarding and downright exhausting. If you constantly react to everyone else’s disasters, where is the time for you to impact your challenges? Your development? Your sanity? I am not insinuating that you should sandbag or never grind to accomplish a goal, but these extraordinary efforts above and beyond should not be the norm. Ensure you are not taking more than your share of the burden for ego’s sake. Is it possible some of your colleagues see your efforts as a race they prefer not to participate in??

As a leader, I always want to know who my “horses” are, but I also need to understand the pace, distance, and speed at which they have been ridden. We want thoroughbred, not broken-down horses who must go to the pasture. You must always pace your team and key players to enable their long-term success; it is always a marathon and rarely a sprint.?

The last item that creates cobweb blindness is the “shiny object syndrome” Is your organization so busy chasing the next “thing” that no consistency exists? Are you lacking solid systems and processes because everyone is always chasing a new and shiny better way? It can be debilitating to shift from one thing to the next when the final product is not yet implemented. This is common with new leaders when great ideas are presented, and they tend to chase the butterfly. Just as you know your people, know your limits and weaknesses. If you like invoking change for change’s sake, it could be an opportunity to see if the last changes have taken effect yet, and watch. Pace yourself so that you can pace your team. Not every race is a sprint; now the difference and provide that guidance to your subordinates.?

Do you find yourself burning out from sprinting all the time? Are you chasing butterflies, or have you grown blind to the cobwebs in your area? Many qualified coaches are available to help you search within to discover what you truly can become. Spend time researching how working with a coach can help you understand and embrace your value. This is a relationship, a partnership, an exchange between two individuals where your vulnerability and honesty can set you free. When you find a connection with a coach, this can put your path on fire. You may have a fond memory of an athletic coach or mentor who started this process in you long ago, now is the time to rekindle that fire! As you digest this article, feel free to reach out, and let’s start the conversation on how you become the best version of yourself in the future!