5 Blind-spots that Sink Your Boat Pt. 2
A leader with blind-spots will one day realize that he/she is the reason for the holes in the boat.
Everyone spends too much time bailing water when leaders have blind-spots.
Work is harder, relationships are strained, and remarkable success is unlikely for leaders with nagging blind-spots.
The trouble with blind-spots is others see them, but you don’t.
5 blind-spots that sink your boat:
Blind-spot #1: Purpose (more here.)
Blind-spot #2: Story (more here.)
Blind-spot #3: Engagement
You have holes in your boat if you think fact filled presentations engage hearts and minds. Realize that nodding heads and glazed eyes indicate disengagement.
The question: How do you move from presentations to conversations?
Talk with people if you expect them to be engaged.
Blind-spot #4: Trust
You have holes in your boat if you believe people won’t do the right thing unless you tell them exactly what to do and then hold their feet to the fire.
If you expect consistent AND personalized customer service, people need freedom to both create and deliver it.
The question: How can we trust and scale freedom while at the same time holding high standards?
Blind-spot #5: Truth
You have holes in your boat if you believe your people feel safe telling you what they really think and feel.
Every leader who needs to be smarter than others, territorial, and put on a tough exterior creates lack of trust.
The question: What can leaders do to create safe environments where people speak and act on the truth?
What other blind-spots come to mind?
How might leaders shine a light on blind-spots?
**This post is adapted from, “What are Your Blind Spots: Conquering the 5 Misconceptions that Hold Leaders Back,” by Jim Haudan and Rich Berens.
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The more you talk to your team and check with them to see if there are any road blocks you can remove for them, the more they will feel like you are approachable and will tell you when something is not going in the right direction.
Thanks Pat. So many leadership concerns are avoided or solved with an open conversation! 🙂 Cheers!
Enjoying the 5 Blind Spots conversation.
Defensive first reactions are my worst enemy.. I’ve worked hard on this and I’m confident I have it right.. And although I seek constructive input, often I really WANT constructive approval.
To continue your metaphor, I punch my own holes.
Trusting other voices as much (or more) than my own is a start. Accepting criticism and changing course to another recommendation is another piece.
Finally (believe it our not) allowing a discussion/meeting to go long enough for the synergistic stuff to happen is (I believe) part of it also.
Dan,
Communication, being there when they need you. Encourage communication as the ballast between function and dysfunction.
Be open when listening to others methods of accomplishment in similar tasks or projects.
I agree with the whole blog, especially about the part that says “You have holes in your boat if you believe your people feel safe telling you what they really think and feel.” As a leader, you’ll get people that just tell you what they think you want to hear. Leaders should always build trust in their followers and make sure they know they can tell you the truth. Communicating is so important, and you won’t get that if the followers can’t tell you the hard truth.