We all have blind spots, or weaknesses that we’re somehow unable to see. Do you have a penchant for avoiding conflict, even when it’s necessary? Are you quick to jump to conclusions before you’ve carefully analyzed the evidence? Without regular self examination, our personal weaknesses can hinder our career progress and damage our professional relationships.
The tricky thing about blind spots is that they may be weaknesses we’re so accustomed to, we don’t even recognize them in ourselves. In some instances, they may be traits we’ve long seen in a positive light, or thought of as essential to our success. Take a moment to consider these tips from industry leaders and think about how they could apply to you. Identifying blind spots is a lifelong process, but the process is incredibly rewarding.
Tip #1 – Analyze Your Mistakes
“A mistake is an incredible opportunity for growth, and I’m of the school of thought that you should never let a mistake go to waste. Think of it as an audit – where were the missteps, and what can you do differently next time? Any business leader will have countless stories of mistakes they’ve made throughout their career, and most importantly, what they learned. Maybe you hired the wrong person, and that taught you to ask different questions during interviews. If you simply rush through mistakes without analyzing them, you’ll end up repeating them.” – Jason Sherman, Founder of TapRm
Tip #2 – Promote an Open Culture
“Developing open communication and promoting an open culture within your team can help identify your blind spots as a leader much quicker. An open culture is created by example, so set the example of being an open communicator with your team to get more feedback. Create a sense of autonomy for your team, so they feel comfortable enough to say where there are issues and where things can be improved. Sometimes, while a leader is focused on their duties, they might not notice something that is another team member’s expertise. This creates a more well rounded team while closing those blind spots.” – Jae Pak, Founder of Jae Pak MD Medical
Tip #3 – Encourage Feedback
“Your network is your most valuable tool when it comes to identifying blind spots. Use it! Ask people around you for feedback regularly, and make feedback a built in component of your projects and initiatives. By creating an engaged culture, you’ll signal to those around you that you are receptive to constructive criticism. And when people do give you feedback – listen to it. It might be hard to hear, but it’s almost always better to have more information than less.” – Jeremy Gardner, CEO of MadeMan
Tip #4 – Look at the Data
“As a leader, it may be easy to fall into the habit of having “tunnel vision.” After all, when there’s an important project on the line, it can be difficult to focus your attention elsewhere. However, it’s also important not to let other things fall through the cracks, and to be able to identify your “blind spots” and correct them. One great way to do this is to look at the data. Are there areas that you see that need improvement? If so, then these could be identified as “blind spots,” which may be hard to recognize at the moment. But, as we all know, the data doesn’t lie, so use that as your truest source to ensure that you’re always on track.” – Isaiah Henry, CEO of Seabreeze Management Company
Tip #5 – View Critiques Positively
“No one likes to listen to a list of their mistakes and flaws. But think of it this way: each critique, if taken seriously, can be a future mistake avoided. People have a tendency to avoid criticism, but it can be a great way to learn about your blind spots. If someone gives you an honest critique and you shut it down, they probably won’t approach you with feedback again. At the end of the day, you don’t know what you don’t know, and if you refuse to accept criticism you’ll lose a valuable opportunity for growth.” – Jay Levitt, Founder and CEO of Lofta
Tip #6 – Diversify Your Inner Circle
“One of the biggest mistakes leaders make is surrounding themselves with ‘yes’ people, or people who think exactly like them. Just like you should hire people whose strengths complement your weaknesses, you should make sure your inner circle includes people who have different life experiences and different backgrounds than you do. They will be instrumental when it comes to identifying your blind spots. They can bring a unique perspective to your leadership style and choices, and really give you good food for thought..” – Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder & CEO of OSDB
Tip #7 – Take Responsibility
“When things go wrong, often the last thing we want to do is look inward. I’ve seen leaders who make the mistake of blaming others for mistakes, instead of thinking about how their own leadership blind spots may have contributed to the problem. As a leader, you’re responsible for making sure you’re hitting your goals and making progress. The only way you can do that is by taking responsibility for your team and thinking critically about your own choices.” – Steven Vigilante, Head of New Business Development of OLIPOP
Tip #8 – Conduct Anonymous Polls
“I’ve found that people can be hesitant to give honest feedback right to your face. They might be worried you’ll take it the wrong way, or react poorly. To get honest feedback, I think it’s helpful to conduct anonymous polls within your team or your company. Give people the option to share their thoughts anonymously, and you’re much more likely to hear what they really think. This can be very helpful if you’re trying to figure out where your blind spots might be.” – Jordan Dwayne, Founder and Designer of 6 ICE
Tip #9 – Look For Trends
“The tough thing about blind spots is that you can’t see them, but the good news is that they’re usually hidden in plain sight. I think it’s helpful to take a look at any patterns that might be present in your interactions with others and see if they might be partly due to your blind spots. Maybe you have a tendency to talk too much during meetings, and you don’t give other people a chance to speak up. If you often find that people are following up after meetings with items they wanted to discuss but didn’t get around to – that should be a clue for you.” – Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce
Tip #10 – Discourage Groupthink
“You spend most of your day interacting with your team. It’s natural that you all want to agree and get along, but it’s concerning if people get to the point where they don’t feel comfortable expressing dissenting opinions. Encourage people on your team to voice their opinions and concerns. Your team should always be a valuable sounding board, and it’s important to cultivate an honest and open culture so that you can learn from each other.” – Ben Thompson, CEO of Hardwood Bargains
Tip #11 – Identify Your Triggers
“We all have triggers – situations that cause us to impulsively or instinctively react without thinking. In his bestselling book, “Triggers,” leadership expert Marshall Goldsmith explains that every waking moment is filled with either people, events, or circumstances that have the power to shape how we act or react. When we master our triggers, we master our responses and make them work for us, rather than against us.” – Marissa Levin, Founder and CEO of Successful Culture International
Tip #12 – Train Outside Your Comfort Zone
“I have mentioned training as one of the most likely outcomes from finding a blind spot in the shape of a skill gap and deciding to address it. But training in and of itself can help you find out about some of your blind spots. For this to work, you will need to select training which does not naturally appeal: pick training which takes you out of your comfort zone and encourages behaviours you seldom use if ever – for example a challenging activity or a public debate. Pick something you will be uncomfortable with. It takes courage but the rewards are well worth it as you could learn more about yourself in the course of this bumpy ride than with any of the other techniques combined.” – Alexandra Sleator, Career Coach at Ivy Exec