Leading People to See the Bigger Picture
I love it when I'm able to work with people that see the same Big Picture as I do. It doesn't happen often, but when it does, it's almost magical. The next best thing is to work with someone that can see some Big Picture - even if it's different from mine, and then we can hash out the differences and come to some accord with how to get to that endpoint.
Some of the most frustrating people to work with are those that simply are incapable of seeing the Big Picture. Maybe they don't think in those abstract terms. Maybe they don't think there is such a thing. Maybe they aren't looking at what's being done as much as how it's done. For whatever reason, I'm in the midst of trying to make someone see the Big Picture, and it's something that before too long, I'm just going to give up on.
This isn't a critique of the person… it's the old adage:
Don't try to teach a pig to sing - it only frustrates you and annoys the pig.
if a person isn't going to see what you want them to see - for whatever reason, then it's time to just stop and let them be the person they want to be. If they have the capability of seeing it, and just don't want to, then maybe, someday, they'll change their mind and come to you seeking out your advice then.
If they can't see it at all, you're annoying them, and if at some point in the future, they want to see try again, they will again seek you out, and try again.
But until then, it's just a problem - for you and for them. Better to accept them as they are and move on. No amount of cajoling, pleading, arguing is going to make an adult change their mind. They have to come to that decision themselves.
So I'm trying to convince myself that the right time to let go is now.
Right now.