Embracing Big Picture Thinking
In January, as part of our monthly Personal Development programme, we’re going to focus on the topic of Big Picture Thinking.
What is Big Picture Thinking?
When we are making major life decisions, for example about relationships or career direction, there will be too many components to think about for us to rely solely on analytical thinking. In these situations, we need to consider the whole and understand how its parts connect. We need to listen to our heart and gut, as well as our head. We need a vision. We need to use our intuition. We need to look at the big picture.
Challenges
In a world of multiple challenges dominating our thoughts at any given time, it can be very hard to find the time, space and mindset to engage in big picture thinking. We can find ourselves relying on analytical thinking (sometimes called “left-brain” thinking), which won’t enable us to generate the best ideas and solutions to life’s big challenges.
We need to know and remember when it is important to use big picture thinking. We need to find ways to lift ourselves out of day-to-day problem solving and devote some to thinking about what really matters. We need to give our “right brain” the right conditions to consider these big challenges.
Top 10 tips
Take a breath. Find space and time to take yourself away from your everyday routine.
Recognise what type of challenges require big picture thinking (not 'in the weeds' analysis). Major decisions, creation of long-term vision.
Ask 'what's the real goal?' (The goal behind the goal behind the goal.)
Step back - look at the whole situation from afar.
Trust your gut. Trust your intuition. In the words of Roxette, listen to your heart.
Don't sweat the small stuff and immediate blockers.
Think about the cause you are striving for.
Think about where you want to be in 10/20/30 years’ time.
Take a different perspective (e.g. think about what one of your heroes might do).
Fuel yourself - talk to people, read, eat, exercise.
Think about the story you want to be able to tell.
If one of these points resonates, think about when and how you could apply it to a current challenge. Write it down. Take an action. See what changes. We’ve only scratched the surface on all the amazing research and writing in this area. Please let us know what tips work for you and help you unlock the power of big picture thinking.
