The 5 Blindspots Every Leader Has
The most dangerous problems are the ones you don’t see.
Every leader has five blindspots that sabotage influence, execution, and decision-making.
According to Marty Dubin*, “Blindspots are what we don’t know about ourselves that hold us back as leaders.”
5 Blindspots Every Leader Has
#1. Identity: Who you think you are?
You act according to who you believe yourself to be. When you see yourself as a genius you don’t see your know-it-all tendencies. If you’re the fixer, you minimize others.
Leadership challenges go beyond self-identity.
Solution: Audit your calendar. Does your time reflect who you aspire to become or who you used to be?
#2. Motive: What drives you?
Are you leading for impact or applause?
Dubin says, “The drive for fame overwhelmed his ability to recognize what he ought to have been focusing on.”
Solution: Ask yourself: “What results matter if no one see them?”
#3. Traits: What strengths are overused?
Overplayed strengths are weaknesses. Visionaries overlook detail. Achievers burn out teams.
Solution: Identify your top two strengths. Ask: “Where do these create problems for others?”
#4. Emotion: Are you managing or being managed?
Some leaders avoid discomfort. Others chase excitement. Unchecked emotion leads to poor decisions and strained relationships.
Solution: Pause before reacting. Name what you feel. Choose your next best move.
#5. Intellect: Are you smart enough to know smarts aren’t enough?
Intellectual arrogance causes tunnel vision.
Dubin warns, “He assumed the things he didn’t understand weren’t important.” 🔹 Solution: Learn from people who see what you miss. Ask, “What am I overlooking?”
Power Action Step: Self-reflection is strategic, not soft. You can’t fix what you won’t face. Begin journaling about your potential blindspots.
Which blindspot hits home for you?
*Marty Dubin is a clinical psychologist turned leadership coach with experience as a CEO and entrepreneur. He blends psychological insight with real-world business experience. This post is based on his new book: Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader.
Keep reading: Seven Steps to See and Solve Blindspots
“What am i missing?” I love this – what a humble way to inject your leadership at a meeting. This opens up dialogue. That is one of the problems with education – one person is often upfront doing all of the talking while the rest of the class is forced to sit quietly. This is not best methodology for learning or for leading. Silencing other experienced leaders in the room holds back progress. It took me years to realize this. If I would give other people the opportunity to question and to make suggestions, we had a lot better chance of winning and making an impact.
Great question, Travis. It takes discipline to ask when you think you already know. Tapping other people’s insight and experience, as you indicate, is key to winning.
Thank you for this post. You include some great reflection questions that really get at the heart of what we do. I plan on using them the next time I go on my reflection retreat.