As a “big picture” guy, I’m often accused of flying at 30,000 feet and not thinking about any of the details. On the other end of the spectrum sits the person that’s deep in the weeds. One is not better than the other, but there is an appropriate time for each.
If, for example, a new project kicks off in the detail mode, chances are it will never get off the ground. Equally unfitting is big picture thinking deep into the execution phase because it will never get anywhere.
The reality is you have to do both. The trick is knowing when to soar and when to zoom. Not everyone pulls back to see the complete picture and not everyone can zoom down to every pixel. Great leaders know when to drill down and appreciate the detail meanwhile keeping the big picture at the ready.