Are you lying to yourself?

It's important to know that your mind plays “dirty” tricks on you.  That is, your perception of reality is never reality itself.  Rather it is your mind’s version or internal representation of reality. 

This causes blind spots – beliefs you have that cause you to be unaware of factors and situations that are causing your business success strategies to fail.

Example: “It’s impossible to find and hire good people.” 

Blind spot#1: Frequently the reality is that you need to hire people because too many have left because they weren't having a positive work experience. Chances are they weren’t acknowledged or rewarded for good work, not ever asked for their opinion, or didn’t have a sense of belonging to the team. (And many more)  Many of them give up and stop producing because they believe no one truly cares.

Blind spot #2:  Since the people on your team are not trying anymore, it looks like they don’t care.  In reality, they feel disconnected and unappreciated…so they stop doing their best.  This change can occur within a few months after being hired.

It’s complicated and there is not enough space here to give it a more analysis.

Developing strategies and plans is a healthy practice for leaders to do. However, if your strategies include significant blind spots they are doomed from the outset.

Remember, you filter every experience through your own learned behaviors, experiences, beliefs, values, interests and states.  As a result, this filtering process distorts, deletes and generalizes your sense of reality. It feels like you know the truth.  Often it is not real.

• Where are you missing critical external cues that your strategies need to be adjusted?  
• Where are you over-estimating your abilities or those of your managers and leaders?  
• To what extent are you attached to your own strategies as being correct that you cannot perceive better ways of reaching your destination?

 The first step to get past blind spots is to be aware of every thought, assumption, belief (disguised as fact) and point of view with which you currently identify.  Challenge it. Especially when you believe you are right.

Find out how to clear your blind spots and create greater success in your company.

Contact me, Ann Meacham, at ann@leadyourteams.com or call 860-788-3504.  Click here to schedule a Free Leadership Strategy session.