Leadership isn’t about the title or position; leadership is a behavior that reflects who you are and what you do.
An effective leader has the ability to win followers, implement and create change, as well as persuade and communicate, assume responsibility and make a positive difference, while building up others around them.
Everyone is a leader in some capacity of their life. Whether you’re the CEO, a middle manager, an entry-level worker, an entrepreneur or simply leading your family, leadership exists at all levels.
Being a leader is not an easy task, and there is no cookie-cutter approach for success. Even the most talented leaders face complex and ever-changing challenges. In the United States, companies annually spend over $14 billion on learning and development. Yet according to Brandon Hall’s “State of Leadership” report, only 18 percent of leaders are “very effective” at meeting goals, and only 19 percent of companies are “very effective” at developing leaders.
More tailored leadership development programs are needed to help leaders unlock confidence, develop leadership presence and enhance business acumen.
Trends in the workplace reveal that many professionals get promoted to leadership because they are highly successful at performing their role. However, being good at a job doesn’t always correlate to leadership success. Companies need to evaluate a leader’s performance and potential.
An increased level of self-awareness is imperative for the next generation of leaders. Self-awareness helps leaders to enhance key leadership abilities and to be more aware of and how to leverage their own strengths and blind spots.
Robert Bruce Shaw writes in his book, “Leadership Blindspots: How Successful Leaders Identify and Overcome the Weaknesses That Matter,” that leaders need to be confident in their ability, but have enough wisdom to know they’re not going to see everything right.
The term “leadership blind spots” refers to areas where existing beliefs, experiences and unrecognized weaknesses prevent a leader from leading most effectively.
A leader’s blind spots are worthy of attention because the cost of neglecting them can be so high. By addressing performance weaknesses and skills gaps, a leader can develop in the areas that are often hard to surface or uncover.
Shaw said, “The most visible of these blind spots is typically a leader’s lack of awareness of his or her impact on others.”
Think about the executive who believes in empowering her team and delegating authority, but then makes all the key decisions herself. Her team might feel micromanaged and unable to trust her or move forward, as they are forced to comply. The leader often believes that she is good at delegating authority, when, in reality she is acting in a very different way.
Or consider the executive who is analytical and logical, but lacks the ability to inspire others. The team might feel frustrated with his detailed focus and lack of vision. His analytical skills inhibit him from standing back and crafting a clear message. His cautious nature and fear of change can stifle team innovation.
Shaw stated that, “Blind spots always come with a price. Leaders get in trouble when they don’t know what they don’t know in the areas that matter.”
Every unrecognized blind spot can impact a leader’s and ultimately, the company’s performance, productivity and effectiveness. Awareness of these blind spots doesn’t make them disappear. But it does allow for a new way of seeing and taking action.
How to uncover blind spots
- Review failures and look for recurring weaknesses and patterns
- Find a mentor to solicit feedback in a variety of areas
- Solicit leadership evaluations on a frequent basis, not just annually
- Take a leadership assessment to uncover key behaviors (examples include: DiSC Work of Leaders, 360-degree feedback, Myers-Briggs assessment, etc.)
- Uncover skills gaps and get support in areas where you may fall short
It’s important to see blind spots as growth opportunities, and not as liabilities.
Effective leaders are more self-aware and proactive about developing these skills gaps. These leaders create a competitive advantage for their career as they use their weaknesses to their advantage and increase their ability to get results. Ultimately, knowledge of your blind spots makes you a better leader!
Beilsmith is an executive coach and professional development expert recognized for helping high–achieving professionals, teams and leaders reach their true potential through coaching, training and assessments. Visit jennybeilsmith.com for more information.
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