Beware of Your Blind Spots

We all have them. Blind spots, that is. Those unseen biases and beliefs lurking below the surface that skew our perceptions. Like a car’s blind spot obscuring oncoming traffic, our cognitive blind spots distort how we take in information and see the world.

Left unchecked, blind spots confound our decision-making and lead us astray. But how do we shine a light on what we can’t see? It starts with humility - embracing that we likely harbor blind spots despite our best intentions. Arrogance and overconfidence keep blind spots firmly in place, while humility loosens their grip.

Seeking diverse perspectives further illuminates blind spots. We need viewpoints from different backgrounds, industries, and roles to reveal our hidden assumptions. Like a mosaic coming together, varied opinions surface unconscious biases piece-by-piece.

Of course, simply exposing a blind spot doesn’t remove it. That requires tracing it back to formative experiences that cemented it, then untangling the beliefs and emotions wrapped around it. Not easy work, but necessary.

Blind spots also emerge through our actions. Say you promise transparency to your team yet make key decisions unilaterally. That disconnect reveals an “integrity blind spot.” Actions expose what words conceal.

Finally, rigorous self-reflection - regularly examining decisions, reactions, behaviors - drags blind spots into the light. Some leaders schedule this reflection monthly, others weekly. Consistency matters most.

The most admirable leaders view blind spots not as personal flaws, but as gateways to self-improvement. While our perceptions may remain stubbornly imperfect, progress lies in the pursuit. Shedding light on blind spots brightens leadership and clears the path forward. The reward? Seeing our organization and ourselves a little more clearly.