6 Leadership Blindspots and How to Overcome Them with Martin Dubin

Understanding Leadership Blindspots

• 💡 A blind spot is defined as what we don't know about ourselves that holds us back as leaders.
• 🧠 These blind spots are difficult to see because our brains develop successful ways of navigating situations, leading us to believe problems lie with external factors rather than our own responses.
• 🎯 The six key areas of leadership blind spots identified are identity, motive, behavior, traits, emotions, and intellect.

Identity and Motive Blindspots

• 🎭 An identity blind spot occurs when leaders hold onto the identity of a previous role, hindering their progression to new ones, such as shifting from a 'doer' to a 'strategic thinker'.
• 🚀 Expanding one's identity, rather than abandoning previous strengths, is crucial for career growth and recognition.
• ⚙️ Motive blind spots arise from a misalignment between true motives and job roles, often driven by a focus on a single motive (like money) that overshadows others (like mission or team relationships).
• ⚠️ Intense frustration can be a clue that motives are blocked, prompting a reassessment of what truly drives you.

Trait and Emotional Blindspots

• ✨ Traits can become liabilities when overused; for example, excessive confidence can be perceived as arrogance, and urgency can lead to rushed or error-prone work.
• ⚖️ The key is to recognize when a strength tips over into a problem and to consciously adjust, such as pausing to ask more questions or slowing down before making decisions.
• 📊 Emotional blind spots involve a lack of comfort or sophistication with emotions, viewing them as problems rather than valuable data.
• 🗣️ Developing comfort with emotions allows for their strategic use, such as a calm leader strategically showing frustration to emphasize a point.

Intellect and Behavior Blindspots

• 🧠 Intellect blind spots highlight that being smart is not enough; leaders need a blend of different intelligences, including horsepower (IQ), processing speed, creativity, and business acumen.
• 🤝 Building a team with diverse intelligence types and respecting each member's unique contributions leads to better outcomes than individual brilliance alone.
• 🎯 Behavioral blind spots, such as poor communication, influence, or prioritization, are often the most visible but hardest to address because they are the outward manifestation of deeper issues.
• 🔑 Focusing on what only you in your specific role can do, like setting strategic priorities or championing culture, is key to effective behavior and prioritization.

Overcoming Blindspots

• 🔍 Self-awareness is the primary tool for managing blind spots; it's not about perfection but about understanding your operating system and making small, conscious tweaks.
• 📝 Exercises and tools like the Blindspotting Test can help identify personal blind spots.
• 🧭 Starting with areas where you experience frustration or receive 360-degree feedback can pinpoint where to focus your efforts.
• 🌱 Developing a habit of increasing self-awareness is crucial for becoming a more strategic and decisive leader.