Jigsaws. Remember them?
Used to be standard fare for birthday gifts for kids? Maybe you like us do one at Christmas?
Ever remember that feeling when you’re a good way into solving one and you get that stuck feeling.
You keep looking at the same pieces and you can’t see what ‘s missing.
You start to wonder if you’ve lost piece and whether you can all the way to the end.
That feeling!
I think that’s a bit like going after our big bold goals.
It’s that search for the missing piece that’s the key to the breakthrough.
I don’t think it’s about working harder.
Many teams I work with are already red-lining it, and are running the gauntlet of burnout.
I think the real conversation if finding the piece of the jigsaw we’ve not seen yet.
What have we as a team not understood properly about this situation?
What question have we avoided?
Who is the voice we haven’t heard?
The missing piece could easily be an assumption we’ve overlooked, a team strength we’ve not utilised, a conversation that’s been avoided as it feels too awkward or too small to matter
Too often, we assume the missing piece is strategy, tools, or skills. And sometimes it is.
On my business journey and sailing adventures, every time we’ve looked for an edge, whether to go faster, to create growth, to get out of a tricky situation, it’s been helpful to think of the missing jigsaw piece.
What aren’t we seeing yet? What don’t we seem to realise? Who haven’t we listened to yet?
It applies to every high-performing team I’ve seen.
They make space not just for execution but for perspective.
When you next feel stuck, don’t pull harder. Instead, stop and ask
“What’s the missing jigsaw piece here?”
“What haven’t we explored yet?”
“Who sees this differently — and what can we learn from them?
The best move isn’t always doing more> it’s seeing what’s been overlooked.
Just like going for a long walk and finding the missing jigsaw piece is staring you in the face.
Three Simple Experiments to Find Your Missing Piece
5-Minute Experiment. Ask a Single Question
At your next team meeting, ask this:
“What’s one thing we’re not discussing that we probably should be?”
Listen. Don’t respond. Just take it in.
10-Minute Experiment – Flip the Lens
Think of a current challenge. Then ask one person on your team :
“If you were in my shoes, what would you see that I might be missing?”
Listen. Write notes. Say thank you. Reflect on it.
30-Minute Experiment – The Puzzle Session
With your team, set a timer for 30 minutes. Together, brainstorm
“What might be the missing pieces to help us solve one of our challenges?
No bad ideas. Let the unexpected emerge. The real gold is often in the second half of the session. Struggle well with the challenge.