I was with my boys one night when my wife was out so I decided to do something different and play some sports video games with them. They were ecstatic to get some extra screen time, but I managed to almost destroy a fun time.
During our time I got frustrated with one of my teenage sons and let him clearly know. This turned into a bit of a tense few moments that eventually passed, but I realized something. My frustration was not helping me lead my children effectively. I was blind to the reality I was overreacting instead of slowing down, observing the situation, and then responding.
We all have blind spots. This is a reality of life, but how can we identify them and why does it matter as a leader?
Why It Matters
“That’s just the way I am”
Have you ever heard someone make the above statement about their behavior? This may be true, but does it serve them well and more importantly how does that behavior impact those around
them? If you have a strong personality and confidently share your opinion this may create an environment where others feel unsafe to share their opinions. You may think everyone agrees with you, but realistically some don’t, fail to share, and therefore the best ideas could not be coming forward. This blind spot could ultimately cause you to make a preventable poor leadership decision.
How We Find Them
Instead of sharing our opinion, we listen to those around us we will create an environment to alert us of our blind spots. Honest conversations help us learn and hear what we may not want to hear. Sometimes we become aware of our blind spots while in an environment where we are sharing ideas about a subject. I often create these environments through mastermind groups and facilitating The Leadership Game.
The only way we can truly see our blind spots is by self-evaluation and accepting feedback from others. As leaders we can think we must have all the answers. This pride can lead to a lack of awareness of personal growth areas. While playing with my sons I did not realize the blind spot of my over-reaction until I paused to evaluate myself and listen to my son’s feedback.
What to Do
We see the problem and are beginning to understand our need for change, now what? Change is never easy and I’ve written a few blogs on change, but one specifically about personal change. Two things can help us move forward once we have identified the blind spot.
Accountability . . . Approach people in your life who will use candor and care to call you out on the area you want to improve. We know that when people inspect our work we perform at a higher level. The same is true with personal changes in our behavior.
Action Plan . . . Once we see the negative impact of the problem, we need to determine a way to change. Accountability will be one part, but work with that accountability partner or others who have fought a similar fight to learn what has helped them overcome or neutralize the challenge.
We all have blind spots and when we increase our self-awareness enough to see them, we are able to neutralize or even conquer them. We cannot do it alone though. Some people may need a thinking partner to think deeper into the impact it has and any limiting beliefs that keep the negative behavior in place. What blind spot have you become aware of? What is the first step you need to take in overcoming it? Need help thinking into it? Contact me to schedule a thirty-minute thinking partner session at no cost to you. Lead Well.
© 2020 Wheeler Coaching Systems, All Rights Reserved
