I was talking to an old friend, sometime customer and colleague yesterday and we were discussing clients and the current economic climate. He has built and run a number of multi-million pound businesses and now finds himself in unaccustomed role of the being the external support to others. He is noticing the power and impact of being on the outside looking in and asking apparently simple questions.

When one is in the front line, dodging bullets, one quickly and naturally loses perspective. It seems there is an inverse relationship between the power to act and the ability to see clearly. I believe we all improve our performance with the input of a third party who can question, support and guide us.

This morning I was talking to my wife about something and I said “It is just like…” and she said “Exactly! That is just what it is like!” This brought to mind my experience with business leaders who often make the same comment. The thing is, once you have a label like that you can act and it unleashes all your resources which you can then focus on resolving the problem.

Before Action comes Clarity…

If you are feeling uncertain or unclear, talk to someone outside the situation

“More important than the quest for certainty is the quest for clarity” Francois Gautier “Simplicity, clarity, singleness: These are the attributes that give our lives power and vividness and joy” Richard Holloway

 

Resources:

• The Value of a Sounding Board
• Mentoring