You’re just not aware of your blind spots. I used to say i was determined…my friends (and haters) told me I was stubborn. They were right. I had a hard time listening because of my drivenness and it definitely affected my ability to better lead those I was responsible for.

You’re unable to detect you blind spots by yourself. You need someone else to give you feedback on it. You know, that coworker that reminds you of that habit that drives him crazy, or your spouse that tells you “You always do that” and you’re unaware of it.

Blinds spots will weaken your leadership in your business and with your employees, even with your clients! They will break relationships with your spouse, friends and family. They’ll hold you down when you try to better yourself and when you’re trying to live for God. They happen when we let our biases, emotions or thoughts dictate or influence our behavior, which becomes unhealthy when dealing with others. 

So, how do you deal with something you’re not aware of? Here are a few steps to diminish the effect of blind spots in your life.

• SHINE LIGHT ON THEM

  I’ve learned, and still learning honestly, that an open communication with a trusted friend or people who have your best interest at heart, will bring clarity…to those blinds spots. Where light is shone, darkness flees. A good personality assessment like the John Maxwell method of DISC can be helpful. I can help you with that!

• BECOME AWARE!

  Learning what those blind spots with an open mind will allow you to know when they want to creep up on you in your business meeting o when you’re a little ticked off at a friend’s reaction!

• INCREASE YOUR CAPACITY FOR EMPATHY

  Daniel Goleman, author of “Emotional Intelligence” says that empathy is basically the ability to understand other people’s emotions. When you give other people the right to emote, react and disagree even, you begin to see other perspectives and you can communicate more efficiently. Being right doesn’t seem as important anymore.

• RECOGNIZE YOUR TRIGGERS

  If you’re like most of us, it’s hard to admit our wrongs. It’s even harder to recognize what triggers those reactions. Yet, it is often predictable though. You know when you “feel like picking a fight” or “flee to the desert to avoid any conflict”. Those common blind spots show up when there is a business disagreement or a relationship speed bump.

• GET A BLIND SPOT FRIEND

  Once you’ve learned to recognize some of your blind spots and what triggers them, find a trusted person who will help you overcome them. The flip side of that blind spot may be a strength to develop.

I am looking forward to reading what are your common blind spots and how you deal with  them.