/// Topics
/// Tips
The
author and leadership guru Stephen Covey encourages us to only focus on
concerns that we have control over. He outlines the “circle of
concerns” as all of the stuff that worries us – and then a smaller
“circle of influence” (within the larger “circle of concerns”) that
only contains stuff that we can actually control.
His
point, of course, is that we should only spend our energy on stuff that
we can do something about. Focus only on problems that lie within your
“circle of influence.”
Easy
to say, HARD TO DO! As creative people, our passion for our work makes
it more difficult to worry selectively. Why? The more passionate you
are, the more protective and perfection-driven you become. Any concern
becomes exaggerated just based on your beautiful vision being
obstructed. Regardless of whether or not you have influence, you will
want to tackle every problem as it emerges.
This
tendency is dangerous. Your energy becomes fractured as you start to
obsess over details and situations that are beyond your control.
Ultimately, your ideas and projects suffer.
When faced with a problem, here are a few questions that all creative leaders should ask themselves:
Is this REALLY in your circle of influence?
Many
designers will argue with printers over an error that was made during
production. Most of the time, the error can be fixed. But sometimes,
due to a hard deadline, resources, and the limitations of the
machinery, ink, and paper, the right answer is to work around the
error. Rather than obsess, time is better spent on changes that can
still be made. Nevertheless, many projects suffer because a concern
OUTSIDE of the circle of influence becomes the center of attention. The
best practice here is to ask yourself, “what is the percentage
likelihood that this problem can be reversed with further
discussion?” If the chance of resolution is less than 10% then you need
to cut your losses! Yes, attaining your perfect vision is nice, but not
at the expense of maintaining momentum.
Is this even WORTH your influence?
If
you can focus on just the “circle of influence,” then you’re in good
shape! But this doesn’t necessarily mean solving every problem. You
have limited energy. Challenge your judgments on whether or not these
concerns are really worthy of your time. Perhaps it is a concern about
a competitor. While you could spend time and advertising dollars to
quell your anxiety, perhaps the right answer is to focus on your own
customers instead? Just because you can fix something doesn’t
necessarily mean you should.
If you can’t delineate your “circle of influence,” get help.
Often
times you’ll find yourself unsure of whether or not an item is under
your control. A number of internet entrepreneurs I know lament when
they find another site copying their design or marketing. The new
entrepreneurs become angry and retaliatory, firing off multiple emails
and discussing to no end. In contrast, the more
experienced entrepreneurs understand that the back-and-forth that will
ensue will simply waste their energy without much to show for it. If
you’re too immersed in a problem to be objective, get some perspective
from those around you!
In his bestselling book The Power of Now, spiritual teacher Eckart Tolle writes, "Ultimately... there are no
problems. Only situations - to be dealt with now, or to be left alone
and accepted as part of the present moment until they change or can be dealt with."
Great creative leaders are passionate about their work without allowing
their perfectionism and/or anxiety to compromise their judgment.
Challenge yourself to only worry about problems that you can solve.
As individuals perhaps we can only manage to solve a small local problems - but big problems take more imagination and drive. Without people who will try a little harder to solve the bigger problems we admitting defeat before we even try. Yes, its easier not to worry about things that are not at your doorstep - it does not mean that you are not implicated and have a moral responsibility to try a little harder!
to attempt the impossible can be naive, heroic, profound and beautiful.
Oh the analogy could go on so much further...!