"Don’t let one mistake erase the whole picture"
When something goes wrong, it’s tempting to lose sight of everything someone has done well. I’ve felt it myself, the sting of disappointment when a mistake looks obvious in hindsight. In that moment, the good work that came before fades into the background. What I see is the let down, front and center. But here’s the trap: disappointment has as much to do with my reaction as with what actually happened. If I let it cloud my perspective, I miss the full picture of their contribution. A clearer mind asks: is this really about their ability, or is it about my expectations in the heat of the moment? Disappointment narrows our view. Leadership asks us to widen it again. Until next time, ✉️ Enjoying The Messy Middle? If someone sent this email your way and you’d like to get it direct, you can sign up here. |