When you are all set to begin on a new project, clarity plays a crucial role when you are about to begin to perform any job. Its fine to have a bird’s eye view but a deep dive is equally important. Understanding how you are contributing the end results makes you connect to a larger picture of your end goal and how you want to see it succeed. It’s all about having a forest in your mind while you are planting trees. It’s good to be a thinker of collection of trees than just seeing individual trees.

Be it a group task or an individual project having an end result of it in mind is important. In fact work on smaller pictures efficiently. Otherwise there won’t be any motivation to work on relevant small details of the bigger picture which can be disrupting. Let us understand how to get the needed perspective.

Discuss the big picture often
When you make the big picture as a consistent part of your discussion, then people/team is able to connect it with the tasks they are handling. This gives your team an idea in what direction are all going and supposed to go.

Ensure that your people understand the importance of the contributing task. In absence of this understanding they will underestimate their own task. Here it is how it goes. There were two labours constructing two walls separately. A man asks each of them same question, i.e. “what are you doing?” one says, “I’m arranging bricks on top of the other.” While the other one said, I’m building a foundation for a hospital.” The latter one knew the bigger picture, which kept him engrossed in the work.

Question people if they can see the big picture
Ask powerful questions. How well is the task given matches to their team contribution? Which parts of the task are most important? Such questions will help in understanding and gain suggestions for better performance.

Ensure the connection to the big picture
Often there is a gap between what people are unable to see and the ultimate layout of your plan. As the leader of the big picture it’s important that you make it relevant to your team and people involved in it. Do not assume that they will understand it and work it as per your wish with the same efforts as you are putting in. Help them figure out the integral part of the whole.

Give your big picture a meaning
It is crucial to give your team members a sense of meaning in their tasks. It will also enable everyone to think more strategically.
To make sure you stay on track towards your big picture, do not get too caught up in the details. Details definitely are important, but remaining stuck with lot of details makes one feel bogged down with loads of petty jobs. This is the time you’ll realise the importance of delegation of some of your tasks. If you plan to start your own business just so that you can get time to spend with your family and do more of what you love, there are high chances for you to get distracted and caught up in trivial tasks. You may also begin feeling that you don’t love what you are doing and putting energy more in things that you do not like in reality.
If you are a part of a big picture make sure you are able to connect with the end results also. Ensure that the tasks to which you are contributing are enriching your prospects of growth. How far it is helping in your personal life? Whether you are able to add values to the task and also whether the tasks are adding value to your life.

If you are a student, you need to be clear in terms of what percentage of scores you want to achieve. Have clarity in terms of examination patterns, your own time table, your time constraints etc. Involve your parents and teachers into your plan so that they are aware where your focus is on. They will definitely contribute in your bigger picture of success that you are aiming for. Once they get a clarity regarding your aim they will guide you with resources. If they are not clear they will not.

Same is the case with managers; let your colleagues know what will be the outcome. Their zeal to contribute will develop only when they know which areas to contribute in and how they can ensure excellence in their respective areas. With this all participants can relish the taste of success.

It takes efforts to reach your end goal, but it takes clarity to reach it with success.

Contributed by :
Aishwarya Kamalapurkar
Email: info@mentorsbaket.com