Do you have Donkey Vision?

I came across a fun trivia fact about Donkeys.... yes... Donkeys! 


Apparently, The placement of a donkey's eyes in its heads enables it to see all four feet at all times. The mind boggles in trying to place this ability in human terms. Yet if we go a little abstract in business terms, it's not that big a stretch. How well grounded are we? Are we single sighted? Or do we allow our vision to be positively influenced so that it becomes well balanced?


Be Prepared to Learn
There's always a danger in saying "I know what's best!" Sometimes that's true, yet it also important to allow humility in and let other teach us. I remember when I was just 18 or so having a chat with a wise old Apple Orchard Farmer... a man I considered a great mentor and teacher. One day he turned and said "That's fantastic Troy, you've taught me something new today, I love that!" What a great attitude for a very experienced man.


Balance from the Top Down
From a management perspective are you well balanced in the way you care for those that report to you. Do you mentor them, encourage them, give them responsibility along with the faith and trust that they will deliver without having to look over their shoulder? It's not always an easy balance to find, especially when the pressure is on and the deadline is imminent... yet for me personally, this is the big differentiator between a Leader and a Manager.


The Lost art of Listening
I've also been thinking a lot over the last couple of days about the lost art of Listening and how it finds it's place in the balance we show.


I was recently asked to assist with Event Management for a large Leadership Conference in the education space. Both myself and one of the other team members had worked successfully together on similar events and were happy to lend our help and experience... however we noticed that each time we presented an idea we were promptly rejected. These ideas weren't costly, they weren't outrageous, they were good quality simple common sense ideas that would add professionalism and prevent disaster. 


We quickly realised that those running the event lacked humility. They were so caught up in displaying authority that they rejected the very advise and experience they requested. 


Can we Handle the Truth?
Do we sometimes do this? It can be very easy to ask other for assistance, yet when they tell us something we aren't prepared to hear, do we promptly reject it without giving it the respect it deserves?


We have two ears and one mouth... surely we should listen twice as much as we speak.


We have two eyes and two feet... surely we should be able to stay well grounded if a donkey can with four feet and only two eyes?