Most of us are so busy doing our own thing – meeting deadlines, completing projects, hitting the numbers – that we sometimes fail to consider problems and opportunities from the perspective of others.

We’re locked in a box.

The three peer advisory boards I lead for Vistage International (www.vistage.com) help leaders pause, reflect, debate and decide how their decisions affect others.

For CEOs, president and owners, these decisions can affect not just their organization but also their industry, their community and – yes – their families.

For key executives – COOs, CFOs, marketing, HR and IT execs – they are reminded that their job consists not only of leading their department or business unit effectively, but also of helping their CEO lead the organization.

Avoid getting so focused on your own world that you forget about others outside your box on the org chart.