Seeing With New Eyes

One of my favorite quotes is by French novelist Marcel Proust, "The real voyage of discovery comes not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." For conscious leaders this requires some fundamental shifts in our thinking. Our mind is often conditioned to see only what we know and can prove, even though our reality may be quite different. Suppose we began to look at employees, clients, and vendors through new eyes - viewing them as sacred - as though we were connected at a deeply spiritual level? How might that change the way we treat them?

We tend to trust our senses more than our instincts. If we can see it, smell it, hear it, touch it, or taste it then "it" must be real. But in our quest for reality we may be missing the more subtle truths that guide human behavior and relationships. By focusing only on what we know to be true, our eyes may overlook the obvious clues all around us. Could our high staff turnover be a direct result of indifference or verbal abuse by management? Might the wear and tear on equipment be caused by the anger and tensions that often fill our workplace? Would clients be less demanding if they felt truly valued and cared for?

Changing the lens through which we view our world begins with acknowledging that we are all connected. As a leader when I treat others with love and respect I will begin to see them differently. If I am courageous and truthful with them, they will be inspired to do the same. The workplace and marketplace is yearning for leaders to see with new eyes. What most leaders fail to realize is they have this ability already within themselves. To see differently doesn't entail a new set of glasses or contact lenses. The vision to create a soulspace for employees and clients requires us to be vulnerable, to admit our mistakes, and to do the right things. By trusting our instincts, and seeking the sacredness in others, we will find that our eyes can see a whole new world.