Brace yourself for a rather large metaphorical leap. I always ask for the window seat in a plane if it is light out--I love to stare out the window. Likewise there is something about being up on a hilltop, or looking out the window of a tall building.

(Here comes the jump.) Whether looking out at a city from a skyscraper, or understanding our jobs, I think there is something in us that likes to see the whole, the big picture.

Most of my work time is spent in an action mode. It means having to be present to one specific piece of the organizational puzzle. It is important to give my attention to that one thing. In my case that might mean focusing on Sunday's worship service or visiting a new person. It's easy to miss the big picture.

So Church Council meetings become especially important times to see things whole. This is the time when the leadership of the church is gathered, for two precious hours a month. Even there it is so easy and tempting to get bogged down in one particular detail of "church business." (How we are doing financially has a particularly seductive power to it.)

I'm wondering what it means to you to see your work and your institution 'whole?' Partly I wonder this because you are not the President of the Harvard Business School. (Unless there has been a recent promotion I haven't heard about) You are one piece of a very large puzzle. So does seeing things whole matter to you? Do you try to see the institution whole, or does it mean you take your little piece of the puzzle, and try to see that whole?

Doug

Dear Doug,

My true priority is trying to see the MBA Program whole rather than the even larger picture of the business school or the university. When I step back and do that, I can do a better job of a few of the things I'm supposed to be doing--to be an information liaison, to bring people together who need to be brought together for whatever reason, and to help keep the lines of communication and interaction open and active.

With so many details at hand, it's rather easy to get caught up in my daily stuff and lose sight of the bigger picture. One of the things that helps me regain sight of the bigger picture is to get out of my cubbyhole and go over to the MBA Program office or attend an open discussion session. It's amazing what can happen in a hallway conversation with a person from the MBA Program office or when I hear a student say something that we might never have thought of. Those are like mini-retreats, when I climb out from under the details, open myself up to the larger community and learn something I might not otherwise have known.

Because I am truly a cog in this huge wheel known as Harvard University, a mini-retreat helps me feel like I am more than a lowly administrator stuffed into a cubicle, cranking out tasks. So, in addition to helping me do parts of my job better, seeing things whole makes me feel better.

Betsy

Dear Betsy;

Your thoughts were a good reminder for me. There is a very physical, "get out from behind your desk and see what is going on" element to seeing things whole.

Its ironic---one way to see things whole in the organization is to step back from the action, get that hilltop view and reflect on what is going on. But you have reminded me of the importance of stepping into the action, going to the places Harvard Business School, or Covenant Community Church is supposed to be making a difference.

I think I am guilty of hiding behind my desk sometimes. Why? Because its easier. Because people are complicated. Maybe because I don't really want to know the ways we are not fulfilling our mission.

Doug

Dear Doug,

I appreciate your honesty about hiding behind your desk sometimes. And it's true--getting "out there" does complicate things. As we always used to say about our writing when I was an advertising copywriter, "If you ask for someone's opinion, chances are they'll give it." And sometimes we were sorry we asked! My tendency is to want things tied up, neat and tidy. When I invite others and their views into the mix, it's messy. I have to stretch to see that the input is a helpful thing.

Working in a large organization like HBS, we are forced to step back once a year and take a look at our job performance. This is another thing that, if not forced, I would probably never do. So a couple of weeks ago I reflected on my first year at this job and tried to get a handle on what I've done and what I ought to be doing. We had Human Resource-mandated deadlines, so I had no choice but to cooperate. Because my position is new, the exercise involved writing a job description, trying to sum up the accomplishments of the past year, and setting down some goals for next year.

It was really tough. But now I feel like I have a template---something that I can hang on the wall (like the list you mentioned in the last issue which hangs on your wall in all its "mangled glory"). When the details of this job overwhelm me, I can look at my job description and try to sharpen the focus.

Today is Commencement Day at Harvard. I took time early this morning to walk up to the Square and watch. The place was a madhouse--then right through the madness, from all different directions, marched all the various schools of robed, beaming graduates, processing through the streets of Cambridge, led by bagpipes, drums and jubilant class marshals, into the eight different gates of Harvard Yard.

The varieties of academic regalia were seemingly endless, as were the hordes of families and friends streaming into the gates. I heard bells ringing, a band playing---it was awesome. I stood for an hour, just taking in the scene and reflecting on the fact that this is why everyone that works here does what they do. The challenge is finding that kind of inspiration on a regular ol' Thursday.

Betsy

Dear Betsy;

Celebration, gratitude, an image of the big picture, and a deeper sense of why you do what you do--it sounds to me like you were at a good worship service. (It even lasted an hour!) And I bet you went back to your cubicle renewed and energized for your work.

Imagine the impact on the ministry of the laity if our Sunday services had this effect consistently...

Doug

• How do you see the "big picture" for your work?
• Is there a role for the church in celebrating the context for your work?
• What would that look like?