How to Recognize and Overcome Your Own Blind Spots
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Being able to recognize your weaknesses and putting in the work to strengthen them over time is a powerful trait that can help you move toward your goals faster than ever. However, there is one weakness that can be much harder to pinpoint — blind spots. Blind spots are personal traits that we are unaware of and can limit our ability to become an effective leader. Below, we’ve outlined three common blind spots and how you can learn to spot them.
1. Having an “I Know” Attitude
Thinking you “know it all” is a blind spot that can prevent leaders from hearing new ideas, learning something new or allowing their team to feel heard and empowered. To help prevent this blind spot, encourage your team to speak up and implement an open culture policy.
2. Not Honoring Time Commitments
Leaders can often feel entitled to be late or miss commitments, but this can send the wrong message to your team. Delivering on your commitments shows your team that you respect their time and hard work. Ensure you’re making your deadlines and appointments a priority by adding an alarm to your calendar or smart device.
3. Avoiding Difficult Conversations
No one likes to have tough conversations and some leaders may think it’s easier to avoid them. However, this blind spot can hurt your workplace environment and productivity. Prepare for these discussions by planning for them ahead of time, staying positive, listening and ideally coming to a resolution together.
Seeing Past Your Blind Spots
Here are a few tips to help you gain clarity around your blind spots so you can continue to grow and thrive as a leader.
1. Identify Your Triggers
Triggers can cause us to impulsively react without fully thinking though the situation. Identifying your triggers allows you to take control of your response and think about how you would like to act or react. One way to do this is to examine your past mistakes for patterns and areas of improvement.
2. Develop an Open Culture
Having an open workplace culture allows employees to feel comfortable expressing their ideas and feelings. This type of work environment is positive, constructive and enables others to take the lead.
3. Get a Business Coach
A business coach can have a positive impact on your professional, financial and personal life. A quality coach will work with you to identify blind spots, share tactics and skills to help you overcome them and hold you accountable to your behavioral change — allowing you to take your leadership to the next level!
