The only thing worse than being blind
is having sight but no vision – Helen Keller
Max Lucado
shares a story about Bob Edens. For 51 years he was blind and could not see a
thing. His world was a black hall of sounds and smells. He felt his way through
five decades of darkness. And then, he could see. A skilled surgeon performed a
complicated operation and for the first time, he had sight. He found it
overwhelming.
“I never
would have dreamed that yellow is so…yellow,” he exclaimed. “I don’t have the
words. I am amazed by yellow. But red is my favorite color. I just can’t
believe red. I can see the shape of the moon- and I like nothing better than
seeing a jet plane flying across the sky leaving a vapor trail. And of course,
sunrises and sunsets. And at night I look at the stars in the sky and the
flashing light. You could never know how wonderful everything is.”
Sight is a
beautiful thing. Blind spots, especially for leaders, can be problematic. A
story in QSR magazine cited a study by Development Dimensions International
that said 91 percent of managers have at least one blind spot, and the average
manager has three. Brad Thomas, a manager at DDI said, “Those blind spots don’t
just hurt the individual who has them, they can hurt the entire company.”
Leaders today must be aware of their blind spots and be willing to correct
them. What are yours? Here are four common blind spots you need to see and why
they matter.
The effect of a bad attitude. Zig Ziglar said, “Your attitude, not
your aptitude, determines your altitude.” This is a powerful truth to know. It
is even more powerful when you can practice it. The attitude you have is one of
the most contagious and visible characteristics of your leadership. It is
important to understand the effect that your attitude has on the culture of
your company.
Your
attitude is the thermostat by which others around you will conform. On average,
the attitude of your team will not rise any higher than yours. If your attitude
is poor it will be reflected in the company’s morale, performance, and is an
indicator of its future. Simply put, you cannot allow a bad attitude to be a
drag on your company because it is a blind spot for you. Pay attention to it
and check it daily. After all, it is a choice.
The consequence of prejudices.This blind spot goes far beyond the scope of
any racial implications. It is the result preconceived notions you make about
colleagues, clients, or customers. It is making and embracing assumptions that
may not be accurate based upon your limited understanding.
When you
allow your prejudices to influence you as a leader you are allowing them to
define you as a leader. Instead, why not abandon your prejudices and look upon
everyone with an open mind, give clients the respect they deserve and your
customers the benefit of the doubt. Prejudices have no place in your business
and they certainly have no place in your heart. It is a blind spot you need to
see and remove.
The price of poor people skills. This blind spot is the source of many
of your leadership headaches. Your business savvy and skill will be undermined
if you lack courtesy and respect. It is one thing to possess the ability to
cast vision and manage the company’s bottom line, but if you can’t have a
30-minute lunch with a client without checking your phone messages five times
it screams of poor etiquette.
Frederick L.
Collins said, “There are two types of people in the world: those who come into
a room and say, “Here I am!” and those who come in and say, “Ah, there you
are!” People skills will make you or
break you in leadership. Take care of people and they will take care of you. It
is a blind spot you simply cannot ignore.
The trappings of an over-inflated
ego. This blind
spot will destroy your effectiveness if left unchecked. Colin Powell said,
“Don’t let your ego get too close to your position, so that if your position
gets shot down you ego doesn’t go with it.” Unfortunately, many leaders are
trapped in the surroundings of their own creation that skewers reality. As a
result they see the world they work in through the lens of “yes” people which
can hinder more than help.
Blind spots
can cause problems regardless of who you are but for leaders it has a
far-reaching effect. The blind spot of ego is overcome by humility and serving
others. Keep a healthy perspective of who you are and keep it grounded in
reality. By paying attention and keeping yourself accountable you can steer
clear of these pitfalls and lead with clarity.
© 2013 Doug Dickerson
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