Trevor Cousins’ leadership blog

Whether we are aware of it or not, we all observe the world through a lens. The lens is made up of our personality, preferences, experiences and history. Like all lenses it can help us see more clearly but it can also distort our view of the world too. Ideally, the lens we view the world through will bring us a sense of contentment and integrity. If it doesn’t, it is worth exploring what aspects of the lens are causing pain or stress.

If you are leading a team, organisation, family, social group etc, being aware of the lens through which you view the world is important. It’s important because it can colour your interaction with others and the results you achieve for yourself and for them.

For example, if you hold the view that people are profoundly lazy, you might push your team hard to achieve results. While this might bring success it might also prioritise productivity over team spirit, causing demotivation and burnout. The opposite view, that people are inherently hard workers might mean giving autonomy and a loose rein which might be good for team spirit but accountability might suffer.

So, what lens do you see the world through? What experiences have shaped you and how does this impact on how you view the world? Take time to consider this and then take a look at the world around you. Do others agree? What other lenses are people looking through? What does the world really look like?