A conductor’s lesson in seeing the whole picture “The problem you think you’re solving is rarely the real problem. Leaders who pause to ask what they’re missing save time, strengthen trust, and avoid fixing the wrong thing.” A string section that wouldn’t blend taught me something I’ve carried ever since: leadership perception is a skill, not a gift. I was standing in front of an ensemble, trying to fix what sounded like a technical problem. I adjusted bowing, articulation, dynamics—but the fragmented sound persisted. It wasn’t until I noticed the principal violist sitting apart from the group, and asked a simple question about how the section was doing, that the real issue surfaced. There had been a scheduling conflict. A unilateral decision. Resentment that was palpable—and audible. Once we acknowledged the tension, the blend returned within minutes. The music hadn’t changed. The relationships had. This pattern repeats in boardrooms, project teams, and family dinners. The problem you think you’re solving…