Image courtesy Tjflex2

Image courtesy Tjflex2

I've seen the same trend (how development is linked to dealing with stress) in companies, marriages, and individuals, and I especially know its relevance because of my own experiences. I believe that there is one most powerful way to interpret stresses stronger on the side of eustress - seeing them within the greater context. Seeing the bigger picture reminds us that:

  1. We need to keep our directional focus, despite the ease of being distracted by challenges.

  2. What feel like unique problems are actually very normal.

  3. There are models and methods to help us navigate effectively.

There are two parts to seeing the bigger picture. The first half is simply pausing to zoom out and be reminded of what is already known. Equally obvious but too often neglected, the second half is studying those who have gone before. A famous Chinese proverb states it well, "To know the road ahead, ask those coming back."

As an example, let's consider a forty-five year-old man whose major challenge for the year has been going through a mid-life crisis. It'd be great if he received insight from a few people like a friend or his father, but what if he could survey thousands of others. Can you imagine what he'd learn? He'd be so much clearer on why he feels the way he does, what's truly unique (or not unique) about HIS situation, how he could mimic others who effectively processed through the stage, how to avoid being like others who damaged family unnecessarily, etc.

Do you think insights from thousands of others would cause this man to face his mid-life crisis any differently? I think so, but how could he engage with thousands? Easy - it's called books (or any other publication medium). For most of the important challenges we and our organizations face in our life cycles, from scaling a business to developing a career to passing on family tradition, there's research to stand upon and leverage. We would do well to spend more time researching related to our real-time challenges to gain greater context for more effectively moving toward potential. The key is simple - to be intentional with individual and organizational development. Here's a sampling of my favorite models (although I don't agree with each fully) as they relate to development.