Why Companies Need Outside Perspective (And Why It’s Hard to Get It Internally)
You ever notice how a company can be full of incredibly smart, talented people… and still get completely stuck? Stuck in their thinking. Stuck in their decision-making. Stuck in endless loops of “we’ve always done it this way.”
It’s not because they aren’t capable, it’s because it’s almost impossible to get true outside perspective when you’re inside the system. And that’s where things start to break down.
At The Threadsmith Group, we’ve seen this happen at every level—startups, mid-sized businesses, massive corporations. It’s the same problem, just with different budgets and headcounts. The good news? Getting unstuck is a LOT easier than most companies think.
Why Inside Perspective is Limited
Look, if companies could easily self-correct, they’d never need consultants, advisors, or outside help (hi). But there’s a reason even the best teams hit walls. Some of the biggest reasons include:
1. People Get Too Close to the Problem
Ever stared at a document for so long that you completely miss a glaring typo? That’s what happens in business too. When you’re in the same system every day, it all starts to feel normal—even when it’s not. You adapt to inefficiencies, build workarounds instead of fixing root causes, and stop questioning things that once would have made you say, “Wait… why are we doing it like this?” The longer you’re in it, the harder it is to see what’s broken.
2. Company Culture Creates Blind Spots
Every company has an internal culture, and with it comes unspoken rules—things you “just don’t question.” Maybe it’s the way meetings are run, the way decisions get made, or the way risk is assessed. Over time, these habits become invisible barriers to innovation. The moment an idea bumps up against how things are done here, it dies before it even gets a chance to be explored. A culture that never questions itself is a culture that stagnates.
3. Hierarchy Gets in the Way
Let’s be honest, most employees aren’t going to march into their CEO’s office and say, “Hey, the way we’re running things is entirely inefficient and kind of goofy”. Even when people see the cracks, they often don’t feel safe pointing them out. Whether it’s fear of stepping on toes, risking their job security, or just plain exhaustion from previous attempts to push for change, critical insights get buried under layers of office politics and unspoken power dynamics.
4. Echo Chambers Form
Leadership teams, especially ones that have been together for a long time, tend to reinforce each other’s thinking. It’s human nature to trust the people we’ve worked with for years. But that trust can turn into a blind spot when no one is challenging assumptions anymore. Leaders end up making decisions based on what worked five years ago, instead of questioning whether those same strategies still apply. And if no one is asking, “Is this still the right move?” they keep making the same decisions, expecting different results.
How an Outside Perspective Changes Everything
Bringing in external insight isn’t about someone swooping in and telling you how to run your business. It’s about getting fresh eyes on problems that feel impossible to solve from the inside. Here’s why it works:
1. They See What You’ve Stopped Seeing
A good outside expert isn’t bringing some magic, never-before-heard-of strategy. They’re just pointing out the things you’ve become blind to. It’s like looking at your living room every day and not noticing the pile of clutter in the corner until someone walks in and asks, “Uh, what’s that?” Then suddenly, you can’t unsee it.
2. They Challenge the ‘Way It’s Always Been Done’
External advisors don’t have to follow internal politics. They’re not caught up in what’s comfortable or familiar. They can ask hard questions without worrying about stepping on toes. They say things out loud that employees might only be whispering about in Slack DMs. And sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed.
3. They Cut Through the Noise and Help Companies Move Faster
Internal teams often get stuck in endless cycles of debating, overanalyzing, and second-guessing. A fresh perspective can slice through the paralysis, providing clarity and action steps so teams can actually move forward instead of running in circles.
4. They Provide a Safe Space for Honest Conversations
Employees know things leadership doesn’t. They see the cracks in the system, but they often don’t feel comfortable bringing them up. A third-party consultant or coach can create a buffer zone—a space where people can speak openly without fear of consequence. Those conversations lead to insights that would have otherwise stayed buried.
5. They Bring Cross-Industry Insights
A good outside expert isn’t just pulling ideas from their own head. They bring patterns, trends, and best practices from across industries. They’ve seen what works (and what doesn’t) in other businesses and can help apply those insights in a way that makes sense for your team. Sometimes, the breakthrough you need isn’t even from your industry, it’s from somewhere completely unexpected.
When Should You Bring in Outside Perspective?
Not every company needs an outside perspective all the time. But if you’re seeing any of these signs, it might be time:
Decision-making has slowed to a crawl because no one wants to challenge the status quo.
You’re solving the same problems over and over with no real progress.
Teams are disengaged. They’ve stopped questioning things and just go through the motions.
You know something isn’t working, but you can’t quite pinpoint what.
The Threadsmith Group Approach
At The Threadsmith Group, we don’t believe in handing over a generic strategy deck and calling it a day. We work with teams to see what’s really happening, challenge assumptions, and get things moving again.
Because sometimes, the best way to get unstuck isn’t working harder, it’s getting a fresh perspective.
Let’s build something better together.