What Lens Are You Looking Through?
Over time, we all develop different lenses to approach the journey called life. Our lens was driven by our personality types but shaped by beliefs and experiences; good and bad. Our awareness of the lens through which we view the world determines how effective we can be. What lens are you looking through?
The lenses through which we see the world are our tendencies on how we view and respond to situations. Two people looking at a glass with 50% water could view it differently. One sees the glass as half full while the other sees it as half empty. Some of us view the world through a lens of harmony. We seek to always have peace and corporation. Some of us are more aggressive and tend to confront anything that we think is out of order. Let me share some examples.
Tough Robert sees through a lens of grit. He is tough on his kids. He says it builds character and resilience, and that’s how his dad raised him. Robert admits he is not a touchy-feely person. However, all of that translates to Robert seeing through a lens with little empathy or compassion for others.
Kind-hearted John sees through a lens of harmony. He is a manager who avoids conflict at all costs. That translates to John having difficulty holding others accountable.
Overachiever Michelle sees through a lens of achievement. She developed that lens because she was always told she could not do as well as her brothers. Today, Michelle is a fierce competitor and will win at all costs; even with the possibility of breaking relationships to achieve a desired outcome.
Whether at home, play, or work, these leaders view circumstances through their particular lenses. Although they may deliver results, being unaware of their lens can cause them to be unintentionally skewed in their actions and biased in their judgments.
Why is this important?
Knowing what lens we favor can help us become more effective leaders and citizens. It helps us uncover unconscious biases that can impact our judgment and enable us to make more strategic choices.
The lens through which we see the world can either help or hurt the top and bottom lines of our business. It can build or destroy business relationships. It can even drive us to make the wrong business decisions due to skewed perspectives.
Our lens can also make the success we desire easier or harder to achieve. It can open or shut doors to our future success based on the approach we take or how we are perceived.
Recommended Action Steps
- Be aware of the lens you see the world. What tendencies do you have when evaluating a situation? Do you see the glass as half full or half empty? Do you deliver results regardless of the impact on others? Do you have a bias for action that shows up as impatience?
- Understand the impact your lens can have on your judgment. Stress, especially in relationships, tends to bring out our true lens. If you view the world through a pessimistic lens, you will tend to see the problems rather than solutions. A person who views through an aggressive lens tends to be less trusting, more competitive, and less apt to seek win-win solutions.
Our lens can be a source of strength, or an opportunity for us to adopt a forward-focused lens.
You will be more empowered if you are aware of the lens you view and approach the world. The most effective leaders choose to develop and demonstrate positive lenses that are uplifting.
Empowered Leader Reflection
Consider your last stressful situation. Through what lens did you view the problem?
What’s your perspective on this post? Did it resonate with you? I’d love to read your comment below.
