Leadership:
Overcoming Blind Spots
Kurt Nelson, PhD

“Leadership is the art of
getting someone else to do
something you want done
because he wants to do it.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower

Fearless Leadership
“The courage to take a bold stand, act
decisively, and engage with others in an
extraordinary way.”
Malandro

FEAR
Are you a fearless leader?

Loretta Malandro wrote a great
book on fearless leadership
One of her key insights was
that we all have Blind Spots

Blind Spots
This was my 1970 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia – it
was a great car!

Blind Spots
However…it had a number of blind spots that hid
things (i.e., cars, people, dogs, etc…) from your view

Blind Spots
However…it had a number of blind spots that hid
things (i.e., cars, people, dogs, etc…) from your view

Leadership Blind Spots
“Unproductive behavior that undermines
business results and working
relationships.”
Malandro

Malandro identified 10 Blind
Spots
Let’s see what they are…

Going it alone

Symptoms
Not asking for help
Not accepting help
Not talking about stress
Not including others in decisions
Malandro

Being insensitive to your
impact on others

Perception
“We judge others on their behavior but
expect them to judge us by our intention.”
Malandro

Having an “I know”
attitude (I’m right)

Arrogant
“Having an answer for everything, rigid and fixed
views, lack of intellectual curiosity, not listening,
diminishing what others have to say, arguing with
everyone who does not agree with your point of
view, refusing to explore alternatives and
options”
Malandro

Avoiding difficult (crucial)
conversations

Crucial Conversations
“Understand that you make the situation
worse for others when you don‟t have
those crucial conversations when the
crucial moment happens”
Vital Smarts

Blaming others or
circumstances

Accountability
“Being personally accountable for business
results and your impact on people, even
when others accept zero accountability.”
Malandro

If you use these two
words…
“Yeah, but...”
You might need to take
more accountability

Treating commitments
casually

Symptoms
Not keeping commitments
Not fulfilling promises on time
Always maintaining an “escape hatch”
Not providing a clear commitment or non
commitment

Conspiring against others

Minnesota Nice
“When I'm angry at someone, I don't let them
know. I just smile pleasantly to his or her face
and then proceed to talk about them behind their
back.”
Urban Dictionary

Withholding emotional
commitment

Hearts and Minds
“When an organization can capture both
the “hearts and minds” – emotional and
intellectual commitment – people engage
and focus energy on implementing
change.”
Malandro

Not taking a stand

Indecision
“An indecisive leader cripples a group or
organization by sapping the energy and
drive of people.”
Malandro

Tolerating good enough

Accountability
“Settling for the „status quo‟ is never
reaching for greatness.”
Unknown

Removing The
Blind Spots

Truly Blind
“If I told you what blind spots you have,
you would deny them, or you would argue,
debate, and defend why you do what you
do.”
Malandro

What can you
do to identify
your blind
spots?

1. Find people who can help you identify your
blind spots and ask them to help?
Must be people who feel comfortable telling you the
truth…

1. Find people who can help you identify your
blind spots and ask them to help?
Must be people who feel comfortable telling you the
truth…
…that is the hard part

2. Empathy practice – take 10-minutes to look
back at the last few hours of your day. Write
down your specific behaviors (like it was a
video that showed only the actual behaviors)
and actively look to identify any of the 10
blind spots.
It is hard to do this without some self-editing / bias – but
try to be brutally honest about it – it really can help

Create an Action Plan
What is your Action Plan
for identifying your blind
spots and taking bold
action to do something
about them?

Ultimately who is accountable?
Insert Your
Name Here

We should wear this badge
everday…

100% Accountable Pledge
I will fully and completely take charge of
my own actions. I will not accept less
than the best from myself or my team. I
will hold myself accountable for both my
own and my team’s results. I will only
make commitments that I can make and
that I intend to keep.
I will not make excuses.

I cannot change anyone’s behavior but
my own – so I will focus on how I can
change to achieve success. I will ask for
help when I need it. I will gladly accept
help when it is offered. I will be open to
insights that others have and listen to
their ideas, thoughts, and opinions
without bias. I will search out
information on my blind spots from those
who work with me. I will not blame
others or circumstances for not meeting
commitments.
I will engage 100% in everything that I
do.

I will “play to win” and not “play to not
lose.” I will take bold action when
necessary. I will speak the truth. I will
not tolerate good enough. I will face
difficult situations and hold crucial
conversations when necessary. I will
actively examine how my behavior is
impacting others.
I will not make excuses.
I will strive to be a fearless leader who
makes a difference everyday. I will hold
myself accountable to all these things.

To learn more…
www.malandro.com
www.lanterngroup.com
http://thelanterngroup.wordpress.com
Twitter - @WhatMotivates
Kurt Nelson, PhD
e: Kurt@lanterngroup.com
p: 612-396-6392

Thank You