Are We Talking About the Wrong Things?

It amazes me how often I sit in meetings or conversations where we passionately debate — but about the wrong things.

Not out of malice. Not out of neglect. But out of misdirection.

The noise of data. The pressure of deadlines. The urgency of reacting to the latest event.

All of these things can pull us away from the heartbeat of what really matters: people.

What Really Matters

At the end of the day, success — in business, in leadership, in life — doesn’t come down to perfect dashboards or flawless strategies. It comes down to:

Serving. Putting others first, not because it’s efficient, but because it’s right.Adding value. Not just showing up, but showing up with impact.Delivering experiences. Every touchpoint with someone is an opportunity to build trust or erode it.Ensuring clarity. In a world of complexity, clarity is a gift.Hearing all perspectives. Sometimes the most important insight comes from the quietest voice in the room.Why We Drift

It’s easy to get swept into the current of “what’s urgent.” Numbers need explaining. Reports need refining. Stakeholders demand answers. And before long, we’re passionately defending positions on issues that may not even move the needle.

But here’s the truth: energy spent on the wrong conversations is energy stolen from the right ones.

Bringing It Back to Center

If you want to recalibrate, try asking yourself — and your team — these questions in your next meeting:

How does this decision directly serve the people we’re here for?Are we creating clarity or confusion with this path?Who else needs to be heard before we move forward?Does this conversation bring us closer to delivering real value?

When we start filtering our discussions through the lens of people first, everything else gets sharper. The right priorities rise to the surface. The noise fades. The real work begins.

We don’t have unlimited energy. We can’t afford to be passionately wrong.

Let’s make sure our passion is pointed at the right things: serving, adding value, delivering experiences, and listening with intent.

Because at the end of the day, that’s not just good business. That’s leadership.

Staying Focused Amidst the Noise

The greatest challenge of leadership today isn’t access to data — it’s discernment. We are flooded with dashboards, KPIs, and urgent messages, each demanding attention as though it’s the most important thing in the world. And yet, if we react to everything, we risk missing what matters most.

This is where the concept of the balcony view comes in. Great leaders don’t just stay in the trenches reacting to every fire drill — they also rise above the fray, looking down from the balcony to see the full picture. From up there, you notice patterns you can’t see when you’re knee-deep in the weeds. You can distinguish the signal from the noise. You can identify the voices that must be heard and the issues that truly move the mission forward.

How to Achieve the Balcony View

Balcony view doesn’t just happen. It requires discipline and intentionality. Here are some ways I practice it and encourage others to do the same:

Create space for reflection. Even ten minutes of quiet thought before reacting can change everything.Ask “why” relentlessly. Peel back the urgency of a request until you uncover its true purpose.Define the big rocks. Know what — and who — matters most, so you can weigh every decision against those priorities.Step back regularly. Whether it’s a weekly review, a quarterly reset, or just a pause in your day, build moments to zoom out.Listen widely. The balcony view isn’t just about what you see; it’s about what you hear when you invite diverse voices to the table.

In the blur of competing priorities, remember this: we’re not here to win every debate or chase every metric. We’re here to serve. To add value. To elevate people and organizations through clarity, connection, and experiences that matter.

That’s the essence of leadership. That’s how we cut through the noise. And that’s how we ensure our passion is never wasted on the wrong things.

#Leadership #Focus #Clarity #EmotionalIntelligence #ServantLeadership #BusinessGrowth #Mindset #PersonalDevelopment #Success