Zoom in or zoom out?

When you start something new, do you zoom in or zoom out?

I often get this wrong. Whenever I join a new project or team, I tend to jump straight into design. Maybe it’s because I’ve worked on similar problems before, or the challenge happens to be in my comfort zone. I can produce quickly and work independently—but whether it succeeds or fails, this habit costs me something valuable: the chance to truly connect with my team.

Yes, I usually start by zooming in. I focus too much on what I’m good at. I try to add value before checking whether that value is actually needed by the team—a simple vibe check I often skip. Deep down, it comes from insecurity. I used to believe that not producing meant not having value. But there’s always a step before creating: zooming out to understand what should be created.

The same principle applies beyond design. We need to zoom out before we pinpoint a location on the map, scan the overview on Netflix before choosing a show, or read the index before diving into a book.

Practising zooming out has helped me immensely. I now take time to understand the team’s needs, goals, and my role before I start building anything. This reduces rework, improves collaboration, and helps me move in the same direction as everyone else.

Starting with a zoom-out makes the team zoom in on me—they listen more closely. But starting with a zoom-in often makes the team zoom out—because I might be creating something they never asked for.