Do You Need to Change Your Perspective at Work?

Could your perspective at work undermine your performance? It’s your vision of how you think things are may not match up with reality.

I’m reminded of a recent visit to the gym. During a break in my workout, I looked out a window and checked out the parking lot. I was surprised that I didn’t see my car. I always park in the same location and my car was not there.

Panic set in and I immediately thought my car had been stolen. Before I dialed 9-1-1, something made me step a few feet to the side and look out the window.

Suddenly, my car’s bumper was visible in its normal location. I realized that from my previous perspective, a slightly larger car, parked next to mine, was blocking my view. The two vehicles had been so closely matched that mine had become invisible.

In this case, a simple illusion convinced me a crime had occurred. With that in mind, do you need to shift your perspective at work to see things differently?

For instance, a supervisor may see staff members being constantly busy. While this is usually a good thing, it’s important to consider what is keeping them busy and if the work is contributing to your big picture goals.

It’s entirely possible the members of your team are wasting time on things that aren’t important, like busywork or processes that could be easily automated, saving time.

Worse yet, while they know this busywork is a waste of time, no one will tell you about it, unless you ask. It’s assumed you want an inefficient process to continue in perpetuity.

For some leaders, a change in perspective at work is about getting out of the office and talking directly to their employees. Often, their only interaction is saying, “Hello,” while passing in the parking lot or the break room.

A short conversation could reveal a lot of valuable information. It’s asking what works, what doesn’t and what’s the biggest challenge the person faces in his or her position. Don’t be surprised if your perspective at work changes.

You don’t gain any revelations if you believe your perspective is the only one. When you look at things one way, you always see the same view.