Unlocking The Box

How Perspective Fuels Leadership and Transformation 

“This dream was turning into a nightmare…” I thought, as exhaustion blanketed my body. Standing alone on the mat, facing the judges' table in the oppressive heat of a 100-degree dojo, my vision began to fade to black. My body trembled, each breath a laborious task. Despite the strain, I knew that one way or another, it would soon be over. Still, the idea of passing out during my final martial arts test — the culmination of a lifelong goal — was not how I had envisioned this moment. 

Yet amid the fatigue and slipping edges consciousness, a new perspective emerged unexpected, unforced — and utterly clear. In that moment, everything made sense: why I had begun training four decades ago, every agonizing defeat, every hard-won victory, every fear faced, and every ounce of confidence earned. It all came rushing into focus, simultaneously humbling and uplifting. 

“When you change the way you look at things the things you look at change” 

—Dr. Wayne Dyer 

Perspective —the way we see and interpret the world and assign value to what we perceive — is far more than a passive viewpoint. It’s a dynamic process. Its Latin roots, per ("through") and specere ("to look"), hint at a deeper truth: perspective is a lens through which we interpret our experiences, face our challenges, and create our reality. 

Standing alone on the mat I realized my past (history), the influence of others (people) my present circumstances (atmosphere), deeply held beliefs (identity), the whispers of Providence (faith) and my dream (future) had shaped proverbial “box” and led me to that moment, and were beautifully shattered in the crucible of the test. Everything changed. 

Leading Beyond the Box 

According to Bob Anderson, creator of The Leadership Circle, the leadership practice most closely correlated with effectiveness is being purposeful and visionary. A compelling vision dares to reach beyond your box — sparking the energy necessary to change and imagine new possibilities. Without vision, the inertia of the status quo wins. No shift in perspective. No transformation. No growth. 

What’s possible when you dare to dream beyond your perspective “box?” 

What’s Inside the Box? 

In Good to Great, Jim Collins describes "Level 5 Leadership" as a kind of “black box” — a term reflecting the mystery around how these leaders personal humility with fierce professional will come to be. They’re often quiet, unassuming, and self-effacing, yet deeply committed to achieving greatness for their organizations. 

While Collins and his team couldn't pinpoint exactly how to develop Level 5 leaders, we propose that the "black box" is, in fact, a dynamic awareness of how a leader’s perspective is shaped — by history, culture, beliefs, and vision for the future. This awareness, or lack thereof, profoundly influences and directs their behavior. 

How is your perspective today influenced by what was — or by what is? 

What perspective is needed to create what could be? 

We cannot change the circumstances we are in through the lens we used to create them. An attention-craving world will blush in the presence of leadership daring enough to offer a fresh perspective — and courageous enough to lay an antiquated one to rest.