Blind Spots: You have some. Do you know what they are?

Personally-Professionally-Organizationally

The older I get, the wiser I get, or at least I am supposed to get smarter! I do find that I am learning more about my behavior and how I get in my own way. How about you?

Developing my best self, I have more blind spots than I thought I had, and I have also learned this is common. I struggle with many of these behaviors because they are natural to me, my "ness." Hence, I am blind to what I can not see, which holds me from my true potential. Does this sound familiar?

If it does, welcome to being human! To separate from the pack, we who work to elevate and become better humans strive to put on the night vision goggles and expose our blind spots for removal.

Beware the blind spot. The blind spot brings the uncomfortable and panic zones, which can be a be careful what you wish for exercise if you are not prepared.

One must be willing to accept critical feedback without a defensive posture, which can be difficult for many, including me. How do you currently welcome critical feedback for growth?

For many, critical feedback is recognized as a personal assault—what a wasted opportunity for growth. To me, this behavior is usually rooted in insecurity.

What is a blind spot any way you ask?

Blind Spot

• The human inability to identify, understand or feel what is happening around oneself based on one's own unintended bias or lack of knowledge.
• To be unaware of or to ignore others' feelings and information presented, believing one's own is superior.

-Jeffrey A. Rogers, CPMBC

"How do I protect myself from... myself?"

Recently I have been involved in a significant decision that must be made affecting my personal, professional, and organizational realms. Aware of my limiting behaviors and potential blind spots, I have enlisted a panel of respected mentors and advisors I value to support my navigation of this decision process.

For this to be most effective and of the highest value, I have asked for their direct, candid, and respectful offerings with no holdbacks. Now I will receive all I require for the best decision. I have intentionally asked those I feel may support or detract from my gut feeling on this decision. Again, I will get all input for the best decision. I will receive actual value from the process without seeking opinion to support the unintended bias I currently am feeling.

Download the full piece to learn the other critical questions asked and tools used in this process.

As leaders, we are not responsible for having all the answers; we are accountable for delivering the best results. A process to expose, uncover, magnify, and flush out all the possible input to achieve the best result is necessary.

The only way to do this effectively is to own it, allow for vulnerability, and decode your unintended blind spots. Remember, we all have blind spots, which is the human condition. One-degree behavior is to work on decoding, exposing, and remediating your blind spots as a leader.