Coaching in Analogies #16: Seeing beyond the hood ornament

I’m old enough to remember when most cars had hood ornaments. Not way back when they used to be the cap for a radiator, but when they were the expression of prestige for an automotive brand. Mercedes had the three-pointed star in a circle. People used to try to steal them.

Aerodynamics and collision safety pretty much finished off hood ornaments decades ago. But they’re still adorning the Rolls-Royce, and they’re still a useful way to think about perspective.

If you’re not looking past the end of the hood when you drive, you’re missing upcoming exit signs and interesting scenery. You could also miss the distracted driver in the next lane or the taillights of an 18-wheeler up ahead that is about to stop suddenly. 

At work, we expect our employees to keep their heads down and focus on their work. But we need our leaders to do more. Leaders must look up, down and sideways, and bring the benefit of their perspective to their teams. If they don’t, they will miss many threats and opportunities.

Coaching prompts:

• When do you tend to keep your head down, instead of taking a more global perspective?

• What can you do to allow yourself more time and space to look at your work more broadly?

Image: Rdsmith4, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons