Here’s a reality that most of us would choose to ignore–crises tend to come in groups. We’re in the middle of a global crisis the scope of which the world has never experienced; however, life and leadership continue, and with it, additional crises are likely to occur. The problem is that all of us have limited capacity, so how do we make sure things aren’t being neglected that desperately need our attention? The exercise below might shed some light on the subject.
Have you ever taken part in the exercise where participants are asked to watch a video of people passing a basketball back and forth? You’re asked to count how many times those wearing white pass the ball. To increase the intensity of the exercise, three additional people, these wearing black, weave figure-eights among those wearing white. It’s hard to keep your eye on the ball. It really requires concentration. At the end of the video, the exercise moderator collects the answers.
Most people get the right number or at least get close. Then the moderator asks another question. “Did you notice anything else about the video?” Most people are completely unaware of the fact that halfway through the exercise, a person in a gorilla suit walks into the middle of those passing the balls around, thumps his (or her) chest several times, and then casually walks off. How could it be that people completely miss something so obvious? It’s called selective attention–“the capacity for or process of reacting to certain stimuli selectively when several occur simultaneously.”
Here’s the main takeaway. You will never be able to bring to bear the tools and energy necessary to solve multiple crises at the same time. The way to survive, and possibly even thrive, in these moments is through a willingness to bring outsiders into the process. As we are working to solve the challenges we’re facing related to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we need to make sure that we have people around us who are looking for the gorillas. Then, once they’re spotted, we’re going to have to do something that most leaders resist–give them the freedom to come up with solutions. You may think, that’s not a problem. That’s just good leadership. And, I would agree. However, the challenge comes when the solution looks very different than what you would have formulated. Are you willing to trust those around you? Are you willing to do so enough to put your name on the solution? After all, that’s what good leaders do.