Sherlock Holmes: Connect the dots and question the frame.

​The long awaited return of the Sherlock series from the BBC has prompted me to rematch all the previous episodes. 
I noticed that Sherlock Holmes connects the dots of little clues; he observes and ties together the pieces of information to create a hypothesis (usually correct) about the crime or individual. Based on the episodes, I created a four point process for leadership training.

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1. Listen and be observant - Sometimes when people are talking about an issue, it might not be the issue they are talking about that is really the problem. Finding the underlying issue may be the key to discovering the real problem. Most of the time it is not the circumstances, but rather it is the feeling that the individual has about the circumstances. So listen and repeat what you heard for clarification.
2. Ask questions - Listening is not always about problem solving. In many instances, listening is about being available and letting someone know you heard them. So be present, be attentive, and stop trying to solve the problem. Instead, just listen. I use an exercise called Rant and Define to help train these skills for leaders.
3. Connect the dots - Just as in number one above, listening and connecting the dots may mean making connections between items that may or may not have connections. See how things are interrelated. Maybe the issue someone has is related to two other items on their workload that can be altered or removed. Connecting the dots helps to discover the straw that broke the camels back.
4. Question the frame  - we all have  set of preconceived notions. Our brain is wired to look at items based against previous knowledge. So long as we can accept that we have a frame, and be aware that the frame might be giving us the wrong information, we can start to question it. As Keith Johnstone says, we all see life through a series of filters. Sometimes we have to take them out and clean them to see things clearly. Knowing that you have a filter and being willing to remove it or clean it is crucial to leadership.

So the next time you are confronted with a dilemma, think about Sherlock and see if you can employ the skills of the best detective to help make you a better leader.

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