Last week, I sat down with Mark, a mid-career leader who was feeling stuck. He had a high-potential team member with strong skills and a great attitude, but something wasn’t clicking.

“He’s smart and dedicated,” Mark said. “But he gets lost in the weeds. He’s spending time on things that don’t actually move the needle.”

I nodded. “Sounds like he’s flying at the wrong altitude.”

Mark looked at me. “Say more.”

“My dad was a biology teacher,” I said. “He used to point out how the natural world works, especially when it comes to energy and focus. The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world, reaching speeds of over 200 miles per hour in a dive. But it doesn’t chase every bird it sees. It selects one. Same with the cheetah, the fastest land animal. It doesn’t scatter its energy. It picks a single gazelle. That’s what makes it successful.”

Mark nodded. “So you’re saying my team member is chasing too much at once?”

“Exactly. He’s expending energy in all directions instead of focusing where it counts. He needs to rise above the weeds and refocus on what’s essential.”

We sketched a few ideas on a napkin together to help Mark’s teammate focus only on the essentials:

• Identify the essential tasks: Which ones truly drive results?
• Eliminate distractions: What can he let go of?
• Streamline processes: How can he make the important things easier to do?

A few weeks later, Mark reached out. “It’s working,” he said. “My team member is more focused, more energized, and honestly, more confident. Once he knew where to aim, everything else got clearer.”

That’s what good leadership looks like. You can help people rise to the right altitude, where they can see clearly, focus their energy, and move forward with confidence.