Perspectives on Planning and Action. Mar 27 2024
Recently I've been having a lot of conversations where the topic of overwhelm comes up. It feels like we're all juggling a lot of competing priorities, and the metaphor of the hamster wheel spinning so fast that we can't stop running or slow down for a second is very present for a lot of people.
I say hamster wheel, but perhaps it's more of a mouse. The problem is, when we're so busy "doing" and trying to to keep up, we often lose sight of where we're going. I created a structure that several of my clients have found useful to help them shift their perspective so they can see the full picture. I want to introduce you to Mouse, Moose, Owl, and Eagle!
I say hamster wheel, but perhaps it's more of a mouse. The problem is, when we're so busy "doing" and trying to to keep up, we often lose sight of where we're going. I created a structure that several of my clients have found useful to help them shift their perspective so they can see the full picture. I want to introduce you to Mouse, Moose, Owl, and Eagle!
In this lovely North American forest scene, we have a mouse. The mouse is busy scurrying around. They notice all the details, every grain of sand, every blade of grass.
The mouse represents most of the "busy" and detail oriented work we do, as individuals in our work and life, as teams working on projects, and as companies. Most of the action happens down in the weeds, where we see all the details but can't see beyond a few leaves and rocks in our immediate surroundings.
The mouse represents most of the "busy" and detail oriented work we do, as individuals in our work and life, as teams working on projects, and as companies. Most of the action happens down in the weeds, where we see all the details but can't see beyond a few leaves and rocks in our immediate surroundings.
Next up is the moose. Our moose can put it's head down almost to mouse level to chew the grass, and also lift it up to get a much better view of all of our immediate surroundings. When we're being a moose we are still on the ground involved directly with productive work, but with an eye on shaping our work towards our goals and objectives.
Then we have the owl, up in the tree tops. The owl can still see the mouse scurrying around, but is not directly involved in their labour. The owl can see much farther than the moose, through the clearings in the trees, almost to the edge of the forest.
Finally we have the eagle, majestically soaring high above the forest, with a view all the way to the horizon. The eagle can see the mouse, but has very little awareness of any of the details that make up it's world. Our eagle sees the biggest picture of where we're going.
Then we have the owl, up in the tree tops. The owl can still see the mouse scurrying around, but is not directly involved in their labour. The owl can see much farther than the moose, through the clearings in the trees, almost to the edge of the forest.
Finally we have the eagle, majestically soaring high above the forest, with a view all the way to the horizon. The eagle can see the mouse, but has very little awareness of any of the details that make up it's world. Our eagle sees the biggest picture of where we're going.
Have you ever noticed when a big picture work conversation appears to get hijacked by technical details? When I make decisions, or when I have conversations with colleagues, I need to know what level the decision or conversation needs to happen at. If I'm we're in mouse mode we shouldn't be making big strategic decisions, because they will be focused on minute details in grains of sand and not by a wholistic view of the whole landscape. When we're talking with colleagues it's helpful to ensure that we're all aligned on whether we're talking big picture strategy or small detail implementation.
My personal optimal balance is around 55% mouse, 25% moose, 15% owl, and 5% eagle. This doesn't mean that I spend 5% of every day as an eagle. Perhaps I only need to spend a couple of days at the start of a year, and a day per quarter thinking about the big vision of my goals and priorities. With a clear big picture from my eagle its easy for my owl to step in and take the lead month by month, keeping me on target, then for my moose to keep me focused week by week, day by day.
When I feel so busy with tasks that all feel urgent, that's a sign for me that I'm probably too much of a mouse and need to make time to reconnect with my eagle. I know from experience that my mouse will want to stay busy, but I need to resist this and deliberately create space to allow my eagle to see the bigger picture perspective, to inform my priorities and give me a clear direction. Conversely if I'm spending too much time dreaming and strategizing without taking action, it's time to shift focus back down to empower my owl, moose, and active mouse.
My personal optimal balance is around 55% mouse, 25% moose, 15% owl, and 5% eagle. This doesn't mean that I spend 5% of every day as an eagle. Perhaps I only need to spend a couple of days at the start of a year, and a day per quarter thinking about the big vision of my goals and priorities. With a clear big picture from my eagle its easy for my owl to step in and take the lead month by month, keeping me on target, then for my moose to keep me focused week by week, day by day.
When I feel so busy with tasks that all feel urgent, that's a sign for me that I'm probably too much of a mouse and need to make time to reconnect with my eagle. I know from experience that my mouse will want to stay busy, but I need to resist this and deliberately create space to allow my eagle to see the bigger picture perspective, to inform my priorities and give me a clear direction. Conversely if I'm spending too much time dreaming and strategizing without taking action, it's time to shift focus back down to empower my owl, moose, and active mouse.
Within a project or a company, there may be people who occupy mouse roles, on the floor creating the product or delivering the service that generates revenue. The eagles within a company structure are the CEO, board of directors, or senior management team, or a producer or project manager in the context of a project. The same rules apply. If the eagle doesn't set and hold the context of the big picture, the owl and the moose can't guide the work towards defined targets. When the mice are scurrying with little to show for their efforts then the big picture direction may be missing, or miscommunicated.
One interesting factor of leadership is that even if we occupy the eagle role within the context of a company or project, within our role and within our lives we still have day to day tasks and responsibilities that break down into our own personal mouse, moose, owl, and eagle layers.
One interesting factor of leadership is that even if we occupy the eagle role within the context of a company or project, within our role and within our lives we still have day to day tasks and responsibilities that break down into our own personal mouse, moose, owl, and eagle layers.
Need help balancing out your mouse, moose, owl, and eagle perspectives, or learning how to effectively switch between them? Setting clear goals and taking action to reach them? Identifying why your mice are scurrying without enough progress being made?
Reach out, I'd love to chat further!
Reach out, I'd love to chat further!