This presentation identifies a few leadership blind spots … (I’ve observed them all and been guilty of many.)

1. Eight Leadership Blind Spots
What you can’t see can hurt you.
Dr. Jim Bohn
Pro/Axios
Minneapolis, MN USA
“Hand me the crescent wrench, you idiot!”

2. • As children, some among us have helped a parent with
car repairs. This generally involves working under a car.
• Inevitably, during a moment of their frustration, we
would receive an instruction from our Master
Mechanic. It sounded something like this:
“Hand me the crescent wrench, you idiot!”
• At this point, we were flummoxed, because at age eight
we had no idea what a crescent wrench was (and there
were many items in the toolbox to choose from!)
• Yet, as organizational leaders, we often do the same
thing to our people …

3. • We do this to employees. We spend time thinking
about corporate strategy… a lot of time. We
know what the Crescent Wrench is.
• We’re thinking really hard, while our team members
may be completely in the dark to our plans.
• Then at a crucial moment, we ask them to be
competent on something they know absolutely
nothing about. “Hand me the Crescent Wrench!”
Blind Spot #1: Assuming others know
what we know.

4. Throughout our careers,
our egos confound us
creating blind spots
that limit our vision
and effectiveness.
This presentation identifies a few leadership
blind spots … (I’ve observed them all and been
guilty of many.)

5. Blind Spot #2: We create the world in
our image.
• As Leaders we play to our strengths but that
may not always be good.
• Our past successes can become the only approach
we use to solve problems.
• When we insist on replicating that approach in a
new environment, we can fail.
Willingness to hear a dissenting point-of-view can
open our eyes.

6. Blind Spot #3: We talk and assume
we’ve been effective in our
communications.
• Sound byte communication is common
these days due to workload overload.
• Sound byte communication is ineffective.
• I talk, therefore you should know… (Cartesian
management).
• And it’s corollary: I think, therefore you should do.
Taking five minutes to ensure team member
comprehension opens our eyes.

7. Blind Spot #4:
The pressures of the job may cause us
to lose patience with others.
• We use abrupt, terse statements.
• We limit eye contact.
• We disconnect with our listeners.
Remembering the impact of someone’s impatience
with us can open our eyes.
Think candor without edges.

8. Blind Spot #5: We (sometimes
unwittingly) categorize people.
• As leaders we often struggle through heavy workloads
and MBA graduate courses to reach the top of the ladder.
• It is tempting to dismiss those who have not
accomplished what we’ve achieved.
• People sense (and remember) dismissive and
condescending behavior toward them.
Being aware that everyone wants fundamental respect
can open our eyes.

9. Blind Spot #6: We send conflicting
signals.
• We say one thing, yet do another.
• We tell one team something,
another team something else.
• We drive people crazy.
A willingness to receive corrective feedback about our
style can open our eyes.

10. Blind Spot #7: We don’t stay the
course long enough to induce change.
• The “New Shiny Object” often
distracts us from the task at hand.
btw - What color is the ball over there? 
• Without discipline, novelty always wins over boredom.
• Inducing change in Organizational DNA takes a lot of
time and a great deal of persistent effort.
Accountability for results can open our eyes.

11. Blind Spot #8: Forgetting to check the
rear view mirror.
• Some leaders are so intelligent they’re moving so fast
others simply cannot follow.
• Hint: They have no idea where we’re going
(but we’re sure they do!)
Other leaders believe they have convinced their teams to
follow them … but they haven’t.
Checking to see if others are following can open our eyes.

12. Throughout our careers,
our egos confound us
creating blind spots
that limit our vision
and effectiveness.

13. What’s your
leadership blind
spot?

14. Pro/Axios
• We offer plainspoken guidance for those
who do the work.
• Check out the Rapid Diagnostic @
www.ProAxios.com
• info@proaxios.com
• 651-302-1574
• Minneapolis, MN, USA
5/3/2013Organizational Insight
Leading to
Organizational
Transformation