In a recent meeting, I showed my team members a colorful butterfly picture and asked what they saw. Each person had a unique interpretation. The discussion became lively and productive as members listened to different perspectives and realized that things can look different when you change your viewpoint.
This exercise highlighted some powerful leadership lessons:
✅ Embrace Multiple Viewpoints
When dealing with team conflicts, consider each person’s perspective before making decisions. Just like the butterfly image, the same situation can appear entirely different depending on your vantage point.
✅ Transform Problems into Possibilities
A project setback that seems catastrophic at first might reveal unexpected opportunities when viewed differently. For example, a manufacturing delay once allowed my team to identify a critical design flaw before mass production.
✅ Practice Perspective-Shifting Daily
If a team member’s performance disappoints you, ask yourself, “What might be happening in their world that I’m not seeing?” This simple shift can reveal solutions that were not apparent from your original viewpoint.
✅ Lead Through Curious Questions
Instead of saying, “This approach won’t work,” try asking, “What might make this approach succeed?” This encourages innovation and reduces defensiveness.
✅ Change Begins with Perception
Successful transformations often start by helping your team see familiar situations with fresh eyes, just as the image shows transformation beginning with a change in perspective.
Challenge Yourself:
This week, view one difficult situation through fresh eyes – you might be surprised by the possibilities that emerge when you simply change the angle from which you are looking.
