#48 - 10 Leadership blindspots and how to overcome them!
12 Feb 25
Experienced leaders are confident and comfortable doing what they do. But this can lead to complacency and a tendency to miss their blindspots.
Ultimately, overall performance suffers as the steady decline is unnoticeable.
What marks great leaders out from the rest is not just how they are able to identify those blindspots; it's also how they take action to address them.
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#48 - 10 Leadership blindspots and how to overcome them!
What?
If you have ever owned an old car for a long time, you would know its. nuances inside out. The squeeks and rattles, the switches that no longer work, the fact that the mirror falls off the windscreen whenever you hit that raised manhole cover.
You know you have to fix them but never really quite get around to finding the time to do so.
When it comes to leadership, we go about our daily routines, making a mental note of the things we need to brush up on. But, like promising to have a beer with an old friend that you just bumped into, it never happens unless you take positive action.
But then, fast forward to the point at which you trade in your old jallopy for a brand new shiny car. The moment you drive the new car the contrast cannot be more defined.
At that point you realise just what a complete bag of spanners you have been driving for the last few years. Be honest, you then ask yourself how you ever managed to put up with it!
Why?
It's the same with leadership. We know we may have blindspots, but neglect to do something about them because 'we are experienced leaders and we know about leadership' - don't we?
But no matter how seasoned you are, blind spots do exist. The trouble is, you don’t see them until they become costly.
How?
Here are the most common and what to do to overcome them:
- Overestimating clarity – Assuming your team fully understands your vision when, in reality, they may be confused or misaligned. Solution: Foster a culture of open dialogue and check for understanding regularly.
- Relying too much on past success – What worked before may not work now. Solution: Stay adaptable, seek fresh perspectives, and embrace innovation.
- Ignoring team burnout – You drive results, but are you paying attention to your team’s well-being? Solution: Encourage work-life balance, recognize signs of burnout, and prioritize well-being.
- Avoiding difficult conversations – Conflict avoidance doesn’t keep the peace, it often fuels deeper issues. Solution: Approach tough conversations with transparency and empathy.
- Being unaware of your own impact – Leaders set the tone, consciously or not. Solution: Seek feedback from peers and direct reports to gain self-awareness.
- Micromanaging instead of empowering – Holding on too tightly stifles growth. Solution: Trust your team, delegate effectively, and allow autonomy.
- Not developing future leaders – Focusing only on current success neglects long-term growth. Solution: Invest in mentorship and leadership development programs.
- Resisting change – Comfort with the status quo can lead to stagnation. Solution: Stay curious, encourage experimentation, and embrace continuous learning.
- Neglecting cross-functional collaboration – Operating in silos limits innovation. Solution: Foster relationships across departments and encourage knowledge-sharing.
- Failing to recognize and reward effort – Unrecognised contributions lead to disengagement. Solution: Show appreciation regularly and celebrate small wins.
The best leaders proactively uncover their blind spots and address them before they become obstacles.
The question is...will you or will you put it off?
In Summary
I hope that you enjoyed reading this newsletter and that it has given you food for thought.
It's well-known that self-awareness as a leader will enable you to identify blindspots. But what marks the greats out from the average is the drive and determination to address them.
Have a great week!
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