Surf the wave 6: Expand Awareness and Unlock Solutions

In times of uncertainty, it’s tempting to focus narrowly—tackling one issue at a time and putting out fires as they arise. 

The most effective teams don’t just solve problems; they expand their awareness, connecting the dots between challenges and revealing opportunities others miss. Let’s dive into why this actually matters, most definitely when tensions rises.

The Narrow Focus Trap:  A real life example:

A global retail chain faces a steep revenue decline. Leadership zeroes in on immediate fixes: cost-cutting, supply chain adjustments, and aggressive promotions.

What did they miss? A shift in consumer behaviour towards sustainability. Competitors who embraced eco-friendly practices were eating into their market share. The retail chain’s laser focus blinded them to the bigger market shift—costing them long-term relevance.

What is an important lesson: Narrow focus may solve immediate problems. It sure can leave you vulnerable to broader forces.

What if you tried to expand the awareness with your team: this means stepping back to see the whole system. It’s about understanding how issues interconnect and what larger dynamics are at play.

It helps leaders answer critical questions:

• What are we not seeing?

• What external trends could reshape our current challenges?

• What relationships between challenges could we be missing?

• How are our decisions impacting the wider system?

This shift leads to smarter decisions, innovative solutions, and a stronger team. Challenge your team to go beyond surface-level fixes and uncover deeper connections.

What should you take out of this article:

When teams adopt tunnel vision, they miss opportunities to innovate and grow. 

By expanding the field of awareness, leaders:

-> See the whole system.

-> Understand the interplay between issues.

-> Uncover opportunities hidden in plain sight.

At your next meeting, encourage your team to broaden their perspective. Instead of jumping to solutions, take a moment to ask:

• What are we missing?

• Who or what else should we consider in this decision?

• How do these challenges fit into the bigger picture?

  
  

Expanding awareness isn’t just a mindset—it’s a leadership skill.