The Anatomy of a Blind Spot

When thinking about a friend, supervisor or co-worker, how many times have you said to yourself, “Do they have any clue how they…?” You can fill in the blank with any number of blind spots including lack of hygiene, talking too much, unrealistic view of their skills – you get the picture. But guess what – others have said the same thing about you. The following are six characteristics that make up the anatomy of a blind spot.

1. Blind spots are present in every person, including you.

2. Blind spots are different than quirks.

3. Blind spots are created over time.

4. Blind spot growth is higher when feedback is lower.

5. Blind spots can kill your career faster than an economic recession.

6. Blind spots can be corrected, but not without serious effort.

The best way to identify your blind spots is through feedback. Growth does not occur in a vacuum; we need accurate and personal input from others so we can appropriately discern what strengths and weaknesses we naturally offer.

For those who want to grow in their leadership, we highly recommend a Leader 360 assessment which anonymously gathers feedback on your leadership from your supervisors, peers, and subordinates. The results then become a platform for a leadership plan and professional/personal growth!

Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.