Adjusting the Lens: How Leaders Learn to See What Matters Most

As leaders, one of the most overlooked skills isn’t execution, strategy, or even communication.

It’s perspective.

Often, we fail to recognize when we need to see a situation differently. We default to the lens we’re most familiar with—the one shaped by past experiences, pressure, relationships, or urgency. And while that lens may have served us before, it isn’t always the right one for the moment we’re in.

One of the most common leadership mistakes I see is when we lump a person’s performance together with our personal relationship with them. When that happens, clarity gets blurred. Feedback becomes personal. Decisions become emotional. And growth—both organizational and individual—slows down.

Perspective isn’t about being softer or harsher. It’s about being accurate.

High-Capacity Leaders Wear Many Hats

If you’re a high-capacity leader, your reality is fast-paced. You’re shifting from objective to objective, meeting to meeting, problem to problem. You’re balancing people, results, culture, and vision—often all in the same hour.

Because of that pace, it’s easy to make decisions on autopilot.

But leadership maturity shows up when we pause long enough to ask:

“What lens am I using right now—and is it the right one for this situation?”

When we learn to intentionally adjust our lens, we avoid unnecessary mistakes, reduce distractions, and create space for better outcomes.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Lens

Not every situation deserves the same perspective. Applying the wrong lens can create confusion, frustration, and misalignment.

Here are several lenses leaders often need to intentionally switch between:

🔍 The Performance Lens

Use this lens when:

Evaluating results, outcomes, or expectations

Addressing missed standards or inconsistency

Clarifying roles, responsibilities, and execution

This lens asks:

What is being produced?

Is the expectation clear?

Are we aligned on what “good” looks like?

Caution: Don’t let relationships cloud performance clarity.

❤️ The Relationship Lens

Use this lens when:

Trust feels strained

Communication is breaking down

Someone feels disengaged or unheard

This lens asks:

How safe does this person feel with me?

Have I earned the right to challenge them?

What might be happening beneath the surface?

Caution: Don’t let loyalty excuse poor performance.

🛠️ The Development Lens

Use this lens when:

Someone is growing but not fully there yet

You see potential that isn’t fully realized

A leader needs coaching, not correction

This lens asks:

What does this person need to learn next?

What skill, habit, or mindset is missing?

How can I support growth without rescuing?

Caution: Development still requires accountability.

🚨 The Reality Lens

Use this lens when:

Stakes are high

The organization is under pressure

Decisions must be made quickly and clearly

This lens asks:

What is actually true right now?

What happens if nothing changes?

What’s the cost of delay?

Caution: Don’t confuse urgency with panic.

🌱 The Grace Lens

Use this lens when:

Someone is navigating personal hardship

A mistake is uncharacteristic

Restoration matters more than consequence

This lens asks:

What would grace look like here?

How do we address this without defining them by it?

What response preserves dignity while maintaining standards?

Caution: Grace without direction becomes permission.

Leadership Is a Lens-Switching Skill

Strong leadership isn’t about having one “correct” perspective—it’s about knowing when to change it.

When leaders fail to adjust their lens:

Feedback feels unfair

Decisions feel inconsistent

People feel misunderstood

But when leaders choose the right lens for the right moment:

Clarity replaces confusion

Accountability feels supportive, not personal

Growth becomes possible

Perspective shapes outcomes.

Before your next conversation, decision, or correction, pause and ask yourself:

“Am I looking at this through the right lens for this situation?”

That single question can save relationships, strengthen teams, and unlock momentum you didn’t even realize was stalled.

If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Drop a comment—or better yet, take a moment this week to intentionally adjust your lens and see what changes.