The Overview Effect

I first came across this term when my coach from Holos was helping me work through my challenges in being an authentic leader. He encouraged me to watch the Netflix show 'One Strange Rock' to help me understand this better.

The confidence it gave me in being kind to myself was incredible. I'm not perfect and I'm working on it, but atleast I know I am right to.

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We are moving past the Easter weekend in the year 2020. An annual milestone that has traditionally been used for centuries to mark key events like Spring (new life) and the Birth of Christ (new beginning).

The globe is in lock-down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And some of the challenges people are forced to experience are familiar to me. It happened to me a decade ago. When I became a migrant.

Arriving in this country with a handful of 'friends and family', I started on a journey to my Overview effect. The isolation from those closest to me. Forced to adapt in whatever way I could.

And now, the challenge I feel I'm facing isn't the isolation but the impact from everyone discovering ways to connect through tools that have frankly been here for years. And it's a tad overwhelming as we all awkwardly try new ways to communicate without a real understanding of the social etiquette to follow.

Adapting to this new way of communicating depends on what kind of person you are:

1. Adapt to really listen - to every single individual who now has their personal platform

2. Adapt to speak up - to avoid being lost in the crowd of 'performers' who have their individual stages

And... there's an opportunity to accept the rise in a new layer of leadership. Those who can authentically facilitate the conversation between the crowds. To ensure that we all have our opinions heard and we are able to have truly meanful communication.

And finally, the lesson I learned is that listening doesn't just mean hearing the words.

It's paying attention to the bigger picture, slowing down just enough to ensure the outcome has the best chance of being right for everyone and speaking up when something doesn't feel right. Even when that's hard for people to hear.

Even when you are likely to be crucified for it.

But also... holding the outcome lightly. Putting undue stress on ourselves and others to try and force things to happen within an unreasonable timeline hurts ourselves. And we are relied upon too in the grand scheme of things.

Because if we are going too fast, the universe will take it's own action. Organically. It will offer us the opportunity to find another way.

Like it is now.

Be Kind. To yourself. So you can be kind to others.