Ignorance of the Big Picture

Ignorance of the Big Picture

🔥NEW Ignorance of the big picture is the mother of Murphy.
Seven blind men, so an old Asian story goes, each held a part of an elephant. One boasted that he held a snake. Another said this was a wall. A third lay atop the mammoth, saying it was a bed. The one holding the ear, thought it was some kind of fan. No one saw the magnificent beast.
Such is the case with situational analysis in business. Until we learn to take the time to listen and see the big picture, we will always have a myopic, wrong view of things. Only truth in its entirety, nothing but it, will allow us to pursue the breakthroughs we most severely need.

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		3 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Importance of the Big Picture Thank you for sharing this entertaining parable. It can be educational when we are dealing with more complex problems like in visioning, strategy development, stakeholder analysis, strategic decision making, complex problem solving, etc. Or if we are coaching managers or leaders with a firefighting inclination.

		1 Anonymous
	Six Blind Men and the Elephant Haha, I think the story actually has six blind men. Anyway, that is not what matters. As a metaphor... Sign up

		1 Hugh T Broomall Management Consultant, United States
	Importance of the Elephant Story Great post. I have found that leaders in business and the military actually do speak to the elephant... Sign up

		-1 Warren D. Miller, CPA, CFA Strategy Consultant, United States
	'The Big Picture' is Vastly Overrated In my 46 years as a business professional, I have encountered a number of individuals who referred t... Sign up

		3 Michael Nwosu Entrepreneur, United Kingdom
	A Big Picture Approach Aiming to have a big picture approach in decision-making requires a strategic positioning that is fr... Sign up

		3 Marvin Foster Student (Other), United States
	Requirements for Considering the Big Picture Do not put a band-aid on an open wound. Business leaders sometimes focus on the symptoms of a proble... Sign up

		2 Mahmoud Moossavi Business Consultant, Iran
	Functional Structure and the Elephant Story Thanks for sharing this great metaphor. Actually, it is better to know Persian and read Rumi's poem ... Sign up

		1 Hans Rostrup United Kingdom
	Big Picture and Details I don't think the intention was to suggest that it's a binary situation - 'big picture' v details - ... Sign up