Business is full of complexities and contradictions.
Should we focus on growth or controlling costs? How about innovation or stability? Short-term or long-term?
The list goes on, and you get the gist. It is too easy to get overwhelmed and attempt to do everything as both sides are important. Yet we have limited resources, and we cannot prioritise everything.
So, how can a leader manage this complexity?
It comes down to moving the needle.
Take short-term vs. long-term focus as an example. At any moment, one might need more attention than the other. The "needle" shows where to focus—a mind model to simplify the complexity.
A leader's role is to assess where the needle points. Using this thought process, we can direct our focus and messages to the side that matters now. It helps us get unstuck and get the most important things done.
Great leaders embrace complexity but act with clarity.
Where is your needle pointing?