We focus on the easy stuff and the simple tasks, instead of going after the more challenging pursuits that would stretch us, force us to give our best.
You have probably seen it before. A video of a lion going for the kill. The hushed, lazy move as he spots an antelope in the distance. The nervous look on the antelope's face as she senses danger. The fast-paced chase. The suspense : will the lion win or will the antelope get away? And then, finally, the kill. It's fascinating. And behind the lion and and antelope encounter is an interesting, lesser-known insight. It's an analogy first shared by Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker in the US House of Representatives.
"A lion', explained Gingrich, "is fully capable of capturing, killing and eating a field mouse. But it turns out that the energy required to do so exceeds the calorie content of the mouse itself. So a lion that spent its day hunting and eating field mice would slowly starve to death. A lion can't live on field mice. A lion needs antelope, Antelopes are big animals. They take more speed and strength to capture and kill and once killed, they provide a feast for the lion and her pride. So ask yourself at the end of the day, "Did I spend today chasing mice or hunting antelope?'
That's a terrific question. So what's keeping you busy? Have you been chasing mice or hunting antelopes? What's true for lions is true for us and our teams too. We focus on the easy stuff and the simple tasks, instead of going after the more challenging pursuits that would stretch us, force us to give off our best and give us the best rewards. Why does it happen that we all end up making the mistake of chasing mice instead of focusing on antelope?
One, mice are easier to catch. Second, catching mice gives us the feeling of being busy all day. And third, when we embark on the journey of catching mice, we get a feeling that success is assured....unlike the pursuit of antelope which could often result in a failed attempt. We don't like to be seen to be failing.
So we do what's convenient rather than what's needed. Before embarking on a new initiative, good leaders don't pose the question 'Can we do it?' They ask the tougher question : 'Should we be doing it?'
Businesses and teams begin to win when they turn their attention to the most important task at hand. They know it won't be easy. But they also know it needs to be done. When teams focus on the big wins, there is a sense of excitement in the team. Everyone knows that to be successful, they all need to stretch every muscle and give off their best. If you find that in spite of doing all you can, the rewards aren't coming your way, maybe you need to pause and check : Are you chasing mice instead of antelopes? Just as lions recognise that they weren't granted all that power to feed on mice, individuals and organisations too need to focus on the highest goals they were meant to achieve.
Michaelangelo got it right when he said : "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it".
Time then to remind yourself and your team : Forget the mice, focus on the antelope.
- Prakash Iyer on Leadership.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores. Rema and Padmakumar, were the first to go.....they were dropped at Pidavoor. Then it was Mini's turn to be dropped at Kuri halt to catch the 1130 hrs passenger to Kollam, from where she got her train to Bangalore by a quarter past 2. We'd gone across to Kottarakkara to top up the Chevy and check tyre pressure.
Settled down to a quiet afternoon, thereafter and wound up Raj Nivas. The house has suddenly gone quiet!. .
You have probably seen it before. A video of a lion going for the kill. The hushed, lazy move as he spots an antelope in the distance. The nervous look on the antelope's face as she senses danger. The fast-paced chase. The suspense : will the lion win or will the antelope get away? And then, finally, the kill. It's fascinating. And behind the lion and and antelope encounter is an interesting, lesser-known insight. It's an analogy first shared by Newt Gingrich, a former Speaker in the US House of Representatives.
"A lion', explained Gingrich, "is fully capable of capturing, killing and eating a field mouse. But it turns out that the energy required to do so exceeds the calorie content of the mouse itself. So a lion that spent its day hunting and eating field mice would slowly starve to death. A lion can't live on field mice. A lion needs antelope, Antelopes are big animals. They take more speed and strength to capture and kill and once killed, they provide a feast for the lion and her pride. So ask yourself at the end of the day, "Did I spend today chasing mice or hunting antelope?'
That's a terrific question. So what's keeping you busy? Have you been chasing mice or hunting antelopes? What's true for lions is true for us and our teams too. We focus on the easy stuff and the simple tasks, instead of going after the more challenging pursuits that would stretch us, force us to give off our best and give us the best rewards. Why does it happen that we all end up making the mistake of chasing mice instead of focusing on antelope?
One, mice are easier to catch. Second, catching mice gives us the feeling of being busy all day. And third, when we embark on the journey of catching mice, we get a feeling that success is assured....unlike the pursuit of antelope which could often result in a failed attempt. We don't like to be seen to be failing.
So we do what's convenient rather than what's needed. Before embarking on a new initiative, good leaders don't pose the question 'Can we do it?' They ask the tougher question : 'Should we be doing it?'
Businesses and teams begin to win when they turn their attention to the most important task at hand. They know it won't be easy. But they also know it needs to be done. When teams focus on the big wins, there is a sense of excitement in the team. Everyone knows that to be successful, they all need to stretch every muscle and give off their best. If you find that in spite of doing all you can, the rewards aren't coming your way, maybe you need to pause and check : Are you chasing mice instead of antelopes? Just as lions recognise that they weren't granted all that power to feed on mice, individuals and organisations too need to focus on the highest goals they were meant to achieve.
Michaelangelo got it right when he said : "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it".
Time then to remind yourself and your team : Forget the mice, focus on the antelope.
- Prakash Iyer on Leadership.
Tailpiece.
Got up at our usual time, the chores. Rema and Padmakumar, were the first to go.....they were dropped at Pidavoor. Then it was Mini's turn to be dropped at Kuri halt to catch the 1130 hrs passenger to Kollam, from where she got her train to Bangalore by a quarter past 2. We'd gone across to Kottarakkara to top up the Chevy and check tyre pressure.
Settled down to a quiet afternoon, thereafter and wound up Raj Nivas. The house has suddenly gone quiet!. .
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