Sunday, September 13, 2026

Seeing Clearly

A clearer view of ourselves and others can change the way we work.

By Justine Van Bolhuis, Research Supervisor

I’ve been a glasses-wearer since the age of 10, when I discovered I could no longer read the blackboard from my seat in the back row of the classroom. Each time I get a new pair, the optometrist sends me home with a bottle of lens cleaner and a cloth, but sometimes it can be a while between cleanings. When I do take a moment to stop and give my glasses a good spritz, and see all the smudges and dust particles that have accumulated, it’s hard to believe I was looking through such clouded lenses all that time without even realizing it.

Even those of us with 20/20 eyesight can walk around with clouded vision at times. And this can impact our relationships, decision-making, and work performance in subtle ways.

When we’ve been in our jobs for a long time, we might get stuck in the pattern of “how things have always been done,” making us closed off to new ideas, or reluctant to make necessary changes based on feedback received from others. This kind of tunnel vision can impede innovation and continued professional growth, while remaining open to new ideas and perspectives can lead to newfound efficiencies and ongoing learning throughout our careers. While a total overhaul of our work may not be needed, taking time to honestly assess someone’s suggestions can make us confident that we’ve considered all angles and are on the right track.

It’s important to look not only outward, but into the mirror. It’s so easy to judge the faults we perceive in others—be it a coworker, client, or manager—but overlook our own. To borrow another ocular metaphor from the Sermon on the Mount, we’re all too happy to point out the speck in someone else’s eye while blissfully ignoring the plank protruding from our own. Doing the sometimes painful work of self-examination keeps us humble, and less quick to criticize those around us.

Additionally, every one of us brings unconscious bias into the workplace that affects our reaction to the people and situations we encounter. While our brain is just trying to help us process all of the information being thrown our way at any given moment, these biases can skew our judgement and influence our behaviour in harmful ways. Just like we should always check our blind spots before changing lanes, it’s important to check our biases before taking action. Taking time for this self-reflection can help us to question our initial reactions and make more well-reasoned decisions.

Just like I need to remember to take a minute to clean my glasses lenses every so often, it’s important to stop and take stock of what we might not be seeing as clearly as we could. Doing so will help us make wiser decisions, build more effective working relationships, and be a better team player.

After all, in the immortal words of Coach Eric Taylor: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.”

Seeing Clearly

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