Quick Question (The finale): When do we choose depth over breadth?

2 Sept

Quick Question

Here is today's quick question for you...When do we choose depth over breadth?

After 52 weeks of Quick Questions, I find myself at an interesting crossroads.

Based on your feedback, this brief, weekly format has created valuable provocation and practical tips. At the same time, I'm noticing that I’m craving more, and I wonder if you are too?

In our world, where content is prolific and often superficial, my instinct is to go deeper rather than skate across the top of your significant leadership challenges. Having said that, I also recognise that your time is precious and more isn’t necessarily better.

So this week I’m pondering 2 connected questions: ‘when do we choose depth over breadth?’ and ‘what’s next?’

I’d love to hear your thoughts. If you’re open to having a 15-minute chat about it, you can find a time here.

When it comes to the question of breadth or depth, here are the usual prompts for you.

Ask it when you're...

Spread too thin - When everything feels urgent but nothing feels meaningful, choosing focused, deeper impact often delivers better results than trying to advance everything at once.
Talking at the surface - If you find your conversations never progress beyond the superficial.
Running at someone else’s pace - When the urgency of others starts driving your decisions, stopping to consider depth vs. breadth often creates a new sense of control.

Listen for...

Try to listen for:

Activity over impact - when your calendar is full but your impact feels scattered, breadth may be masking a lack of true progress.
FOMO - sometimes resistance to depth comes from anxiety about what we might miss, rather than clarity about what we might gain.
Pressure to be visible - when external expectations demand surface-level engagement across multiple fronts rather than meaningful contribution where it matters most.

Follow up with...

Sometimes, the greatest value comes from the one extra question you take the time to ask.

In this situation, you could try…

What if I gave my best energy to fewer things?
Where am I confusing action with progress?
Am I focusing on being seen or on achieving the most important things?

More on what’s next?

This is the final Quick Question in this format. After a year of weekly prompts, I'm ready to create a new format that allows for more substantial exploration of the leadership challenges that matter most to you.

Stay tuned for a new approach that combines the power of great questions with deeper insights and practical frameworks. I look forward to your feedback as it evolves.

Thank you for a year of questioning together.