The Spirit of Change - The Art of Seeing the Big Picture
Anne Hartslief
Co-Founder at Lockstep | We have impacted over 200 companies globally by building leaders that integrate performance with humanity | Business Activist | Business Builder | CEO Advisor | Public Speaker
Seeing the big picture is not a luxury; it’s a skill. Progressive Leaders are tuning into the soul of their business, attuning to its rhythms, its unspoken needs, and its potential. This requires a different kind of leadership. Leadership that goes beyond traditional metrics and KPIs to grasp the underlying forces that drive business.
When businesses and their Leaders fixate on specific targets or immediate results, they risk losing perspective. It’s like being in a forest and focusing so intently on the trees that you miss the layout of the land - as a result, you can easily get lost or take the longer route or even worse (but always fixable if you’re paying attention), the incorrect path.
Future Fit Leaders, by contrast, learn to step back, to see the patterns and possibilities that lie just beyond the obvious. This is where the true power of change leadership emerges - not in managing the minutiae but in authentically shaping the narrative that guides the business forward.
Research from systemic thinking and neuroscience reinforces this approach. Leaders who excel in change are those who understand the world and therefore business as a living system, one that is interconnected and dynamic. They recognise that every decision, every shift, and every disruption sends ripples through the entire business. This awareness allows them to anticipate challenges, leverage opportunities, and steer the business with agility and foresight.
The hard truth: If you cannot sense beyond the immediate, you will not only hinder your business potential but also your own growth. We should be actively developing the ability to discern the subtle undercurrents that influence outcomes, both positive and negative. This requires more than strategic thinking - it demands a deep connection with the essence of your business and an acute awareness of the forces at play.
If you’re too focused on short-term gains, you may be blind to the long-term consequences. Take a step back and ask yourself: Are you truly leading with vision, or are you merely reacting to the pressures of the moment?
Working with this type of wisdom starts with attuning to the nervous system. It’s through this attunement that we gain clarity, calm, and the capacity to lead with both insight and empathy, ultimately leading to better performance and the right results. Individually, this awareness helps us align our actions with our deeper values and long-term ambition. Collectively, it builds wholesome organisations that can adapt and perform in the face of change.
‘The Cancer in Performance’ - A talk with Anne Hartslief
Book a 1-hour interactive talk for your team with Anne and discover how to create a unique performance formula for your business.
Prepare to be challenged, inspired, and equipped with a profound new understanding of performance integrated with humanity.
What you'll gain:
The ‘Cancer in Performance’ is more than just a diagnosis; it's a call to action.
Book a talk for your team and embrace a new era of enduring performance:
To set up a discovery call with Anne, book a slot here
‘Working With Wisdom' Immersion Session
Join Anne for a complimentary immersion session, ‘Working with Wisdom’.Uncover the science behind human development and learn how to apply these insights to drive business transformation.
UK - Central London (2-hour in-person session)
South Africa (1-hour online session):
What you'll discover:
Spaces are limited, so don’t miss this opportunity to gain a new perspective on leading change - one that blends scientific understanding with practical application.