As a director of product development and government services, my mentors and managers have always encouraged me to elevate myself from the details, to focus on the "big picture." After working on two start-ups and finishing an Executive MBA program, I now, however, have a new appreciation for the the term "getting into the details."
Every successful individual must concern him/herself with the details. How does it work, what is needed to make it successful, and where can I find the answer to these questions? The key for each individual is to define "it." For a CEO of multi-billion dollar company, it is the leadership team. The CEO needs to find it, build it and promote talent. She needs to understand what makes her people tick. For a web developer, it may be the latest tricks and tips on HTML5 or CSS3. For an artist, it may be finding the right color, perfecting brush strokes, or capturing inspiration. Whatever it is, it needs to be understood at a DETAILED level
What does this mean for you? It means that rather than focusing on the big picture, you should be "getting into the details" and ensuring that your team has covered them. As you ascend the corporate ladder or expand your personal enterprise, pay attention to everything around you. You need to determine how to prioritize the essential elements of your tasks, and focus on it. While this may seem to be simple advice, as one of my mentors told me, simple is never easy. I charge you to figure it out for yourself and get into the details of making it work.
