Detail or Big Picture? Executives Weigh In

Recently at a small business summit, several different executives weighed in on which they focused on: details or the big picture. Out of the three executives interviewed there were varying responses.

Claudia Chan from Shecky’s Media Inc. who is in charge of the Girls Night Out events talked about trying to let go of one project in order to look at the next big thing. Once she has helped with the development and implementation of a new idea or project, she tries to delegate tasks and step aside so that her employees can work on the nitty gritty details particular to that project while she moves on to something else. However, she said that one problem she has is that it is never really possible for her to let go; that is, she’s constantly turning over the project in her mind even if she’s no longer directly working on the details. Her advice to other business owners was to have a management team that is in-line with the CEO’s vision and the company’s mission that can see a project through to completion.

Lisa Kaplan-Thaler is CEO and Chief Creative Officer at the Kaplan Thaler Group, an advertising firm dedicated to helping companies make the most out of different media arenas. Kaplan-Thaler talked about how important it is to focus on the details, because she said the details can really get you. What if one crucial detail is off? Could this derail your entire project? Perhaps. Her take on it was that details set the tone for the entire brand.

Jim Koch, founder of The Boston Beer Company, producer of the Samuel Adams brand of beer, talked about how stepping down from his company’s CEO position was one of the best things ever for him because someone who actually enjoyed CEO work took over the position. He said that he tries to consider the following questions in dealing with product development: “Where do I add value? What is the quality of my product? What is the culture of my company like, and does this product fit into that culture?”.

In conclusion… Whether you look at details or the big picture often depends on your personality style, but as a CEO or executive it’s important to do both. Begin with the big picture inception of a new idea and then focus some on the details, staying mindful that there will come a time when you will have to leave the detail work to someone else and move on to the next big thing. However, if you’re supported by a confident and hard-working team devoted to the values and goals of the company, you should feel better about letting go.