Lately, I’ve been deep in a leadership study on blind spots—an eye-opener, to say the least. Self-awareness is something I’ve been leaning into through my work with Lead Empowered and GiANT Worldwide and the 5 Voices over the last seven years. Without it, we miss a foundational piece of both happiness and effectiveness. And if we’re not careful, we end up moving through our leadership journeys disconnected from how others actually experience us.

How To Grow In Self-Awareness

To grow in self-awareness, we first have to admit: we don’t see everything. Especially those parts of our leadership that may unintentionally damage the very people we’re trying to serve and empower. GiANT calls this the “broccoli in your teeth” moment—everyone sees it but you.

John Maxwell defines blind spots as “areas in the lives of people in which they continually do not see themselves or their situation realistically… often causing great damage.” That definition stops me cold. Because in leadership, everything compounds—for better or worse. And the truth is, I don’t see you as you are; I see you as I am. That’s dangerous if I never step outside of my own lens.

Marissa Levin calls blind spots the Achilles Heel of leadership. Unlike weaknesses, these are traits or behaviors we’re unaware of—and they quietly limit our effectiveness.

Some Basic Observations

1. We all have blind spots. Self-examination is always step one toward increasing self-awareness.
2. Few people see them. We judge ourselves by intention, others by action.
3. Blind spots hurt people. We operate with context; they receive us without it.

Common Blind Spots in Leadership

1. Going it alone – Refusing to ask for help.
2. “I know” mindset – Needing to be right over being effective.
3. Avoiding hard conversations – Sidestepping conflict instead of resolving it.
4. Blame-shifting – Playing the victim instead of owning results.
5. Casual commitments – Not honoring others’ time, energy, or trust.
6. Conspiring against others – Driven by ego or a personal agenda.
7. Tolerating “good enough” – Setting or accepting low standards.

Take a moment. Which of these might be true for you? Ask your team. That’s the point—they’re blind spots for a reason.

Let’s keep fighting for the highest possible good of those we lead. And as Scott Weiss puts it:

“It’s important for a leader to hear about their blind spots regularly—so working on them stays top of mind.”

---

References:

Maxwell, John C. “THEBLINDSPOTSSERIES.”JohnMaxwellLeadershipPodcast,1Aug.2018,
johnmaxwellleadershippodcast.com/episodes/leadership-blind-spots.
Levin, Marissa. “The Top 10 Leadership Blind Spots, and 5 WaystoTurnThemIntoStrengths.”Inc.com, Inc., 13 July 2017,
http://www.inc.com/marissa-levin/the-top-10-leadership-blind-spots-and-5-ways-to-tu.html

Looking to increase your self-awareness and have a better understanding of your leadership behaviors and tendencies? Try the FREE 5 Voices Assessment.