Balancing the long view with the pressing now is like tending a garden over many seasons. First, set clear goals—know where the forest leads. Then, in each crisis, ask whether the action will advance or hinder that path. If it does, act. If it distracts, steer away. Keep the vision visible, like a star, so decisions stay anchored. And remember, patience is your ally; haste can uproot what you’ve planned.

You show the filter by speaking the same terms you use to set the goal. Keep the criteria written in a shared space, update it with every meeting, and let each team member see how a crisis aligns or not. When you ask a question, answer it with the filter—no, yes, or maybe—so the line between urgency and purpose is never lost. That way the whole group reads the same star.