Blind spots … we all have them. As leaders, if we are to influence people into action, it is essential we become aware of our blind spots and evolve. When we choose to remain in our present state, we take the road to nowhere with our potential to rise higher as leaders.
There were many times I wondered what my team may be saying when I'm not around. It is only natural that we question if we're "getting it right" as a leader. It's the same feeling I get as a father when parenting. The time we should really concern ourselves is when people (or our children) speak of our blind spots and would say, "Only if he/she knew that …". These could be times we unintentionally stifle feedback, hurt a person's feelings, or fail to meet certain standards and expectations.
Blind spots are areas in our personality we continually do not see realistically. The overuse of our strengths brings about blind spots as well. Often, our ego gets the best of us. EGO edges others out and it's an unhealthy form of pride. This unawareness becomes a weakness that causes great damage to the people around us and situations we deal with. Unfortunately, alone we are unable to know our blind spots … as Les Brown would say, "You can't see the picture when you're in the frame".
In John Maxwell's book "Winning with People", he teaches the Lens Principle --- "Who we are determines how we see others" which means that we see people and situations based on our perspectives and belief systems. If you haven't taken a personality assessment, an insightful and valuable tool in identifying blind spots and people's natural communication style is the DISC Personality Insights Assessment.
Blind spots are also caused by a lack of perspective. Leaders with a singular perspective are polarizing and will have major blind spots. A singular perspective does not value people. Learning to have a wide perspective is gaining the ability to understand and relate with diverse people. In this space, you value people and bring out their best because you genuinely connect and are not manipulating them.
Keys to "HIT" and Overcome Blind Spots:
Humility - value people and their perspectives.
Inner Circle - surround yourself with individuals that gifts you honest feedback and desires to see your best.
Teachable Spirit - always have a curious mind and invest in personal growth. Embrace the lessons and celebrate your transformation!
To become a better leader requires our commitment to grow and model behaviors that of a leader. As John shared, "People aren't looking for perfection. They are looking for connection."
Discover the Leader within You!
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