Management Tip of the Day: 3 Tips for Strengthening Your Big-Picture Skills

Are you having trouble viewing this email? If so, click here to see it in a web browser. HOME   |   BLOGS   |   THE MAGAZINE   |   BOOKS   |   AUTHORS   |   STORE RSS   |   Mobile JULY 14, 2010 3 Tips for Strengthening Your Big-Picture Skills The ability to see the big picture is a critical skill for a rising leader. Detecting patterns and linking concepts help connect your work, or the work of others, to the larger goals of the organization and to the world more broadly. Here are three ways to make those valuable connections: Identify parallels. When faced with a new situation or project, ask yourself if it reminds you of anything. Are there elements that are similar to or relate to other situations in which you've been? Expand your thinking. Look for non-obvious factors that may affect the situation. Seek out underlying causes or events. Articulate analogies. To communicate what you are seeing, use metaphors and analogies to which others can easily relate. Today's Management Tip was adapted from "Career Advice" on the "Ask the Expert: Tammy Erickson" board of the HBR Answer Exchange. Read the full thread and join the discussion » Share Today's Tip: RELATED PRODUCT Focus on the Big Picture, Not the Numbers Harvard Business Review Press Book Chapter Does your less-than-perfect strategic planning process thwart your competitive advantage? This chapter from Blue Ocean Strategy shows you how to develop a different approach — based not on preparing a document but on drawing a strategy canvas to meet your company's critical goals. ADVERTISEMENT Follow the Tip: PREVIOUS TIPS 4 Things Your Employees Need From You Know the 3 Ingredients of Important Conversations 3 Tips for Defending without Being Defensive Get Yourself a "Bitsmith" Remove the Mental Barriers to Career Success Don't Let a Tight Budget Stop Your Professional Development 3 Ways to Handle Disruptions 2 Tips for Managing a Multigenerational Team 3 Tips for Acing an Interview How to Craft a Persuasive Presentation BEST SELLERS Guide to Persuasive Presentations HBR's 10 Must Reads: The Essentials Financial Intelligence Collection HBR's 10 Must Reads on Managing Yourself Guide to Better Business Writing Job Seekers, Take Note Whether you've been laid off or are considering a job change, HBR's Guide to Getting a Job will help ensure that your next move is the right one. Only $19.95. Buy now » UNSUBSCRIBE   |   UPDATE YOUR PROFILE   |   MORE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS   |   PRIVACY POLICY Was this email forwarded to you? If so, sign up to start receiving your own copy. ABOUT THIS MAILING LIST You have received this message because you subscribed to the "Management Tip of the Day" email newsletter from Harvard Business Review. If at any point you wish to remove yourself from this list, change your email address, or sign up for other email newsletters and alerts, please visit the Harvard Business Review Email Newsletter Preference Center. ADVERTISE WITH HBR This enewsletter is read by thousands of decision makers every day. Learn more about connecting your brand with this audience. Copyright © 2010 Harvard Business School Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School. All rights reserved. Harvard Business Publishing | 60 Harvard Way | Boston, MA 02163 Customer Service: 800-545-7685 (+1-617-783-7600 outside the U.S. and Canada)