BDD
Understanding Big Picture Deficit Disorder
Many of you have heard of A.D.D. Attention Deficit Disorder. Part of this disorder is not paying attention to small details. People with A.D.D like me, struggle with paying attention to small details. We do great at looking at the big picture. B.D.D is like the opposite of A.D.D. People with B.D.D have a lack in attention to the Big Picture.
In job searched and job descriptions I noticed a theme of most employers looking for someone that is detail orientated and organized. I always kind of cringed because it did not describe me and every single employer was looking for these qualities. That was a long time ago when I noticed that but recently when I was job searching I did see some changes like looking for people that are creative ect.. Which made me more optimistic.
I struggle to see the small details but do great seeing the Big Picture. I noticed some people in my work that were so detail orientated but to a fault and I pondered this as I took a lovely walk in nature.
There is the condition called A.D.D and these people seem to struggle with attention to detail. I wondered if there should be a diagnosis for people on the other spectrum that are too detail orientated to extent that they get lost in the details and cant see the big picture. If there was a concluded that they should be diagnosed with B.D.D. (Big Picture Deficit Disorder). The lack attention in seeing the Big Picture.
The problem with B.D.D is that is slow down tasks and hinder the development of the end goal. Its getting stuck in numbers and data. Big picture thinking is when you look at the whole picture and all of the effects that the situation has on everything around it. Most big-picture thinkers do not get bogged down in the details of executing their plans. When you are only detailed orientated you can miss out on important effects that could potentially become big problems. Its not just looking at the egg and analyzing it and wondering why the baby chick is so delayed to come out of the egg and wondering what is wrong but it is also looking at the farmer and the farmers wife and the Chickens and the roosters and the barn. Or if a child is struggling at school and you are a teacher and try to drill him homework and give extra homework so he or she masters the skill but does not find out the family dynamics. Is there a lack of food in the house or is the household unsafe does the child need glasses. Finding out that instead of just hyper focusing on small details. Its very important to see the Whole Picture.
It is good to be detailed orientated but when you miss out entirely on the big picture you have developed B.D.D. It created a toxic environment and will put numbers and data above people. It will crush synergy, innovation and vision.
One way to combat this pigeon hole mentality is next time you have a problem that effects other people, look at all the people and environment involved. If you are working on a team try to be more open minded and to have synergy with other people instead of close minded. Let your mind expand a bit and maybe even tap into the A.D.D's people strength of using creativity and Vision and looking at how all things connect together.
DSM people if you are out there and would like to add B.D.D to the DSM book, go for it!
At the end of the day balance is probably optimal. Detailed thinkers and Big Pictures thinkers are all valuable. Learning how to let go a bit and to create the synergy of both talents would make the world a better place. Watch this Song to inspire you to see the bigger Picture
