Bob Nixon drawing on his extensive military and business leadership experience, defines leadership blind spots, explains why they are detrimental, and offers strategies for identifying and mitigating them. He emphasizes that while everyone has areas where they lack knowledge or competence, true blind spots arise from choosing not to see, often due to ego, stress, overwork, or an over-reliance on reports and numbers.

Key Takeaways:

• Blind spots in leadership are not about what you can’t see, but what you choose not to see.
• Leaders need candid feedback to identify and address their blind spots.
• Staying connected with all levels of the organization is crucial.
• Building a culture of open and candid discussion is essential for minimizing blind spots.

Quotes from this episode:

“So what are these blind spots and what does it really mean? Well, unlike your car’s blind spots, leadership blind spots aren’t really things that you can’t see. It’s things that you’ve actually chosen not to see. It’s really about choices that you make.”

“So how do we deal when our ego is keeping us from being something or seeing something that we should be seeing? Well, first we have to analyze our mistakes…Then we have to get candid feedback. Like, we have to surround ourselves with advisors and peers and coworkers, anybody who will give it to us straight. And then, most importantly, listen to them.”

“Surrounding yourself with candid, trusted advisors and then creating a culture where dissent is valued and encouraged. That’s probably the most strategic thing you can do as a leader. Making sure that your blind spots are minimized is critical for your success and the success of your business.”