After living with a slightly blurry world for the past two years, I finally decided to have my eyes tested. I am writing this now wearing my new glasses and wondering why I waited so long. What surprised me, however, was not just the clarity they brought, but an unexpected insight that emerged during the test itself.

As you might expect, there were letters on the screen that I struggled to see clearly, and some that I could not see at all. As the test progressed, I noticed something fascinating. The eye being tested was attempting to compensate by constantly adjusting its focus. The experience was like watching an old film flicker. A letter would briefly appear as an F, then a P, then an E, disappearing and reappearing as my eye and brain worked together to interpret the blurred image. My mind was drawing from its internal store of familiar shapes and letters, rapidly testing possibilities in an effort to make sense of what it could not see clearly.

This entire process was happening automatically and without my conscious control. I had no influence over which letters were being tested or selected. What made the experience particularly striking was that the letter eventually turned out to be an H, not any of the options my brain had been cycling through. The process was impressive in its efficiency, yet inaccurate in its conclusion.

At the time, it was simply an interesting observation to share with the technician conducting the test, who confirmed that this happens frequently. Later, however, the broader implication became impossible to ignore. How often do we do something very similar as we interpret the world around us?

When faced with new situations, unfamiliar behaviours, or challenging interactions, how often do we subconsciously search our internal reference points to find something that feels familiar and manageable? We test interpretations drawn from our own experiences, beliefs, and assumptions until we settle on a version of reality that feels coherent to us.

This process helps us navigate complexity, but it also carries risk. When we prioritise comfort over accuracy, we may reinforce a personal narrative that drifts away from what is actually happening. History offers countless examples of how dangerous distorted interpretations can become when they go unchallenged.

This is where leadership coaching plays a powerful role. Coaching invites leaders to examine how they see themselves, how they interpret others, and how they make sense of their environment. Working with a coach functions much like putting on corrective lenses. Situations that feel blurred or distorted become clearer. Patterns that were previously overlooked come into focus. Most importantly, leaders are encouraged to explore multiple perspectives rather than defaulting to the most familiar one.

By broadening perspective and questioning assumptions, coaching supports sharper judgment, stronger relationships, and more intentional leadership.

With that in mind, I invite you to reflect on the following questions.