Zoom Out, Zoom In
A Situational Pattern.
Situation
You’re in it and connected to the work, the situation, the challenge. But sometimes you need to step back and look at the bigger picture to understand what’s most important… and where you should spend your time. Sometimes you need to zoom out to zoom back in.
Pattern
1. Insert a pause.
Find a way to insert a pause into your situation. Step back for a moment by yourself or have a chat about things with a friend. Take note of where you are.
2. Zoom out.
In your minds eye, practice zooming out to a broader view of the situation. Stepping out of the day to day, what’s most important? Zoom out further and take another look. What core concepts remain?
3. Assess your approach.
Now think about why those core concepts are important. How are you spending your time right now? Are you working towards or against those core concepts? How might you adjust? What is something you can drop… or something you must keep?
4. Zoom back in.
Understanding this new perspective, zoom back in and adjust your focus. Stop doing what is unnecessary and keep doing what will progress you towards what’s most important.
Why
Zooming out of your current situation to a higher vantage point will help you to identify what’s essential. With this new understanding, you can drop what’s not needed and spend more time on what is.
Curious about Situational Patterns? Learn more about Situational.ly.
