See the big picture, not just your own painting
What am I talking about?
Well, if you are running a team or organisation I think it’s important that everyone sees the big picture not just their own painting. It makes a big difference.
Often, everyone is working hard.
Often brilliantly.
But they’re focused on their bit.
Their project.
Their deadlines.
Their deliverables.
Their painting.
And when that happens, something subtle starts to break down.
Teams drift into silos
Decisions get made in isolation
Friction builds (quietly at first)
Everyone is busy… but not always aligned
Because no one is really looking at the full picture.
There’s a mindset shift that really changes things for the better:
High-performing teams don’t just execute well.
They think systemically.
They ask:
How does my work impact others?
What’s happening upstream and downstream?
What does the organisation actually need right now?
Not just:
“What do I need to deliver?”
You might be thinking that’s easier said than done because we are so busy just getting stuff done.
Where does this magical time come to be able to think about others?
I think the following can help people step out of their own painting:
Make the bigger picture visible
Strategy shouldn’t live in a deck. It needs to be talked about, often.Create cross-team conversations
Not updates. Real dialogue about interdependencies.Reward collective success, not just individual output
Otherwise silos are inevitable.Get leaders modelling it
If senior leaders stay in their own lane, everyone else will too.
I really see that when people can see the whole canvas:
Decisions get better
Collaboration gets easier
And work actually moves faster
This is often the work behind the work. And that’s where I come in. Working with leadership teams:
Helping people zoom out.
Reconnect to the bigger picture.
And remember they’re part of something shared.
If your team feels busy but slightly disconnected,
this is usually where I start.
DM me if you want to talk about YOUR team. I’m here!
Tracy
