The Power Of Perspective

Suddenly I See

Have you ever had one of those moments where everything just clicks? Maybe you were going through the motions, doing something familiar, and suddenly, you saw things differently—like a lightbulb switching on in your mind. That’s the magic of a perspective shift, and it’s something we all experience in different ways throughout our lives. But here’s the catch: while some perspective shifts hit us like a bolt of lightning, others happen slowly, almost imperceptibly, over time.

Let me take you back to when I was a Junior Girl Scout, a defining spark to my entrepreneur journey. The summer between 5th and 6th grade was a pivotal time for me. I was determined to earn as many badges as possible before becoming a Cadette. Each badge represented a new skill, a new perspective. When I worked on the archery badge, I learned about physical strength and focus. Cooking was like a science laboratory. But it was the Helping Senior Citizens badge that truly opened my eyes. Volunteering at a local nursing home, I began to see the world through the eyes of the elderly residents. I wasn’t just earning a badge; I was gaining a new understanding of life’s different stages.

These experiences taught me that perspective shifts can happen in two ways. Sometimes, they strike us suddenly, transforming our worldview in an instant. Other times, they’re the result of slow, steady growth, shaped by our experiences and the new things we learn. Both types are incredibly valuable, especially in leadership.

Points of View: From Childhood to Adulthood

It’s no secret that the transition from childhood to adulthood is one of the most significant periods of perspective shifts. According to Youth.gov and the U.S. Office of Health and Human Services, this period is marked by evolving views on independence, responsibility, and relationships. As we grow, the lessons learned from our families shape our initial perspectives on the world.

But as we step into adulthood, our perspective better also leap forward to fit the complexities of adult life.

For many, this means recognizing that the interpersonal dynamics in the workplace differ significantly from those in our families or college friendships. This is why it’s so tricky to say teammates at work are like “family”- not all family dynamics should show up at work.

In a professional setting, the win is learning to navigate relationships with a balance of objectivity and empathy, constantly adjusting our perspectives to better understand and lead those around us. This ability to adapt is crucial for effective leadership. And teams can tell when their leader makes an effort to see things from their point of view. That empathetic connection is so valuable for trust.

The key takeaway here is that our perspectives should never remain static. To thrive as leaders—and as individuals—we need to keep evolving. By staying open to new ways of thinking and challenging our assumptions, we can continue to grow and avoid the trap of attaching incorrect meaning or clinging to the sunk costs of our experiences.

Leadership Depends On A Leaders’ Perspective

In leadership, perspective shifts are not just beneficial—they’re essential. A leader who is open to new perspectives can inspire their team, navigate challenges with agility, and create a work environment where everyone feels valued. So how do you cultivate this ability to shift perspectives?

One of the most powerful tools at our disposal is play. Yes, you read that right- play. Game-based learning, for example, allows us to explore different perspectives in a low-stakes environment. Play creates space for structured inefficiency- failing fast and failing forward in a space where failure feels more like creativity and constructive feedback comes across like celebration. Whether it’s through strategy games, role-playing, team-building exercises, or internal comms initiatives shared like quests, play can help us see things from a new angle and develop a more flexible mindset. It’s not just about having fun; it’s about preparing ourselves to handle the unexpected with grace and creativity. And if it happens to be fun while building those muscles… right on.

Beyond prioritizing more play-at-work, maybe the most powerful way foster perspective shifts is through intentional reflection. Try this: take a moment to think about a challenge you faced years ago. How did it change your perspective? Do you see the situation differently now that some time has passed? How have the ways you’ve grown helped change your viewpoint on what happened? By practicing reflection, we can better understand how our perspectives can and should evolve, and even better, how we can keep our perspectives open while going through future challenges.

The Role of Perspective Shifts in Business Strategy

In the bigger world of business, perspective isn’t just about understanding where you are—it’s about knowing where you’re going and how to get there. This is where strategic vision comes into play. A leader’s ability to shift perspectives, zooming in and out from the big picture to the finer details, is crucial for effective strategy formulation and execution.

A great example of this happened in 2020 when the world suddenly shifted to remote work. From my vantage point, I was running operations for an in-person focused training and development company. We had dabbled in virtual teaching, but I wouldn’t have called us experts. And because of the game-based approach we took to learning, there were serious doubts about whether we could maintain the same spirit of interactivity with the sudden switch to online learning. But something magical happened because of this forced transition. We discovered so many new things about ourselves as teachers and coaches. We became highly creative and innovative in figuring out how this format could work.

It’s like there were two major perspective shifts. The first was realizing that, whether we liked it or not, we had to make this change. The second was recognizing that changing to virtual teaching wasn’t just a necessity—it was an opportunity. We began to see that this shift opened up a world of new possibilities, allowing us to reach participants in ways we hadn’t even considered before.

This dual focus—maintaining a long-term vision while adapting to immediate needs—requires a layered approach to perspective. The flashpoint is where the long-term goals, immediate opportunities, and the current realities overlap. Leaders must navigate these intersections with agility, ensuring that every decision, whether big or small, aligns with the overarching strategy while also addressing the present demands.

A Venn Diagram of Aligned Perspective

The ability to shift perspectives like this is crucial for leaders. Objectivity allows leaders to see things as they are—unbiased by personal feelings—while empathy lets them understand and connect with others’ experiences. During the transition to remote work, leaders who balanced these two qualities were able to anticipate not just the logistical challenges but also the emotional and psychological impacts on their teams. I mean… it got real…

By showing empathy, they were better equipped to support their teams through the transition, fostering loyalty and engagement even in uncertain times.

As leaders, it’s essential to maintain what I call a “layered perspective.” This means keeping an eye on the long-term vision while being able to shift focus to address immediate challenges. By maintaining that 10,000-foot view, leaders are better equipped to spot short-term opportunities that align with their strategic goals. It’s a bit like managing a glorious, huge Venn diagram of points of view. Every decision needs to be made with an understanding of how it fits into the big picture, down to the micro-level details.

In essence, effective leadership requires a constant balancing act. Leaders must remain focused on their long-term vision while being nimble enough to pivot when necessary. This balance, grounded in the ability to shift perspectives fluidly, is what ultimately determines the success of a business.

OK, Let’s Play! Embrace Perspective Shifts

Let’s dive in and put these ideas into practice. Remember, perspective shifts aren’t just about thinking differently—they’re about doing differently too. So, let’s get started with some activities that will help you embrace and apply these shifts in your daily life.

Ready: Think about how perspective shifts have impacted your life. These shifts might have been sudden, like a lightning bolt of realization, or gradual, like the way sunlight slowly creeps across a room in the morning. They’ve shaped who you are and how you see the world. Now, it’s time to harness that power intentionally.

Set: Get ready to dive into your memory bank. Identify one moment when your perspective shifted suddenly. What sparked that shift? How did it change the way you approached the situation? Next, think of a time when your perspective evolved over a longer period. What experiences contributed to this shift? How did it feel to gradually see things differently?

Go:

• Journal it out: Write down a moment when your perspective changed in an instant. What caused this shift, and how did it alter your understanding? Reflect on what this experience taught you about your capacity to adapt and grow.
• Go further: Reflect on a perspective that has evolved slowly over time. How did your experiences shape this shift? What did you learn along the way? Consider how this gradual change might have prepared you for future challenges.
• Give the Benefit of the Doubt: Practice seeing the best in others and in the situation. When you’re faced with a challenging interaction, try consciously shifting your perspective to consider what might be going on in the other person’s life. What experiences could be influencing their behavior?
• Apply Your Insights: Take those circled insights and put them into action this week. How can a small shift in perspective make a big impact in your leadership? Track the changes and see how your team responds.

Your Call to Action: Keep Looking Up

Your challenge this week is to actively seek out opportunities for perspective shifts, and to explore more for the beautiful possibilities than the potential problems. Whether through intentional reflection, play, or simply staying open to new experiences, make a conscious effort to see things from different angles. Remember, growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum—it happens when we challenge ourselves to think differently and embrace the unknown.

If you’re still with me then do this: take a moment to pause, stand still, and shift your perspective. Use tools like journaling, talking to friends, or even a SWOT analysis- you do you- to gain new insights. The more you practice, the more adept you’ll become at recognizing and harnessing the power of perspective shifts in your leadership journey.

Perspective shifts are powerful tools for personal and professional growth. As leaders, it’s our responsibility to stay open to these shifts, constantly evolving and adapting our perspectives to better serve our teams and ourselves.

I’ll just say from my point of view- I’m better when I stay curious, keep learning, and embrace the power of shifting perspective.

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Hey there! I’m Blair Bloomston, the creative mind behind the Play Uplifted blog, fueled by my 20+ years of experience as a game-based learning designer. The ideas and content? All mine. But I have to give a shoutout to my amazing assistant, ChatGPT, who swoops in to fix my typos and smooth out the grammar. Together, we’re here to elevate your leadership game. Cheers for collaborAItion at work!