What the Watchman Taught Me About Focus | Elite Web Technologies
Published 30 July 2025
Leadership & Workplace Culture
By Elite Digital Team
What the Watchman Taught Me About Focus
This morning, something unusual — something simple yet profound — made me pause.
It wasn’t a TED Talk. It wasn’t a boardroom discussion. It wasn’t even an email marked “urgent.”
A Moment That Made Me Pause
It was around 8:45 AM. Like most weekdays, I was walking into the office with my mind already racing ahead: client meetings, proposals to review, code deployment deadlines, and the inevitable stream of emails to answer. My phone buzzed with Slack notifications. I barely looked up — until I reached the gate.
Something was different.
The usually vigilant watchman wasn’t in his seat at the security desk. Instinctively, I scanned the area, expecting him to return quickly or perhaps step out for a minute. But then, on the far left corner of the entrance — just beside the flowerbeds — I saw him.
Not standing. Not pacing. He was crouched over, gently tying up a slender green plant that had drooped after last night’s heavy rains. Its stem was almost flattened, the tiny leaves weighed down by damp earth.
He wasn’t in a rush. He wasn’t distracted. He wasn’t performing.
"If We Ignore the Small Things..."
As I passed, I said softly, “Good work.”
He looked up, smiled, and replied:
“If we ignore the small things, they won’t stay small forever.”
Leadership Lessons Hidden in Everyday Moments
The Little Things That Matter at Work
These are the “drooping plants” we ignore at work:
- The Junior Developer silently struggling.
- The Daily Standup that’s lost meaning.
- The Slack Message that went unanswered.
- The Process we all know needs fixing.
Real Focus = Care + Action
Building a Culture That Notices
At Elite Web Technologies, we’re striving not just to build innovative solutions — but to build a culture of awareness, accountability, and compassion.
A culture where:
- Managers notice the tone in a developer’s voice.
- Designers ask why a client’s vision has shifted.
- Teams speak up about inefficiencies and are heard.
- Leaders recognize efforts that aren’t spotlighted but matter deeply.
Growth Happens Where You Least Expect It
What I Took Away
- Leadership isn’t loud. Sometimes it’s silent, deliberate, and humble.
- Presence is power. Focus means noticing the unnoticed.
- Small things compound. They grow into cultures — good or bad.
- Great leaders are gardeners. They nurture, protect, and tend to things that matter.
- Start with what you see. What you reward becomes your culture.
A Thought for the Week
This week — just once — pause. Look around. Ask yourself:
- What’s quietly bending out of shape?
- Who’s being consistent without recognition?
- What small thing have I been ignoring?
Then act. Not for credit. But because you care.
Final Words
#StayAware #LeadWithHeart #EliteWebTechnologies
