CEOs and leaders cannot operate on a perfect level at all times. Whether you are running your own small business or leading a large team of employees, weaknesses and blind spots are a part of the territory while juggling all of the responsibilities that come with the job of a leader. Weaknesses are to be expected and successful leaders in business know how to navigate their weaknesses.
So how do blind spots fall through the cracks? Your blind spots are the weaknesses you do not see. They can be personal weaknesses, operational weaknesses, or structural weaknesses that pose a risk to the success of your business. If you have found yourself face to face with a blind spot and find yourself in the position to pivot your strategies, goals, or leadership style, lean into your faith. In this article, we will discuss strategies for CEOs confronting their blind spots.
Open The Lines Of Communication
A lesson that many leaders learn early on is that mistakes are inevitable. One of the best ways to learn from your mistakes and weak points is by opening the lines of communication and making yourself available for feedback. This feedback can be more analytical in the form of performance data and trends, or more personal in the form of feedback from the team. Closing the door to communication is a common reactionary response for bosses and leaders that have been knocked on their heels by blindspots. If communication is a blindspot in your leadership style, you can begin improving by prioritizing your listening skills. Evaluate by asking those around you whose skills can be highlighted moving forward? How can you better support the team? What other blindspots can be pinpointed that you might be missing? Developing a strong team around you, listening to their feedback, and learning from the experiences you go through together can make a big difference as you navigate risks and weaknesses.
What does the bible say about feedback and weaknesses? James 1 verses 2 through 4 states,
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We are called to be optimistic through trials! CEOs looking for strategies to resolve blind spots that threaten the success of their work can start by listening, seeking support, asking questions, finding resources, and entering conversations that broaden their perspectives. All of these practices begin by opening the lines of communication so that honest and vulnerable communication may occur.
2. Keep Moving Forward
Blind spots develop and exist. This knowledge should not instill a fear of failure, but instead it should ignite a curiosity and open heartedness to explore, learn, and grow. Pinpointing and seeking out the habits or ideas that hold you back is the first step in turning a blind spot into a weakness that can be improved. Of course, we all have weaknesses, but great leaders know that success is reliant on action and sometimes big risks reap the best rewards.
There is no way to know the perfect route without taking the first step towards your goal. Ecclesiastes 11 verses 4 through 6 states
Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. Just as you cannot understand the path of the wind or the mystery of a tiny baby growing in its mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the activity of God, who does all things. Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.
If you catch yourself on your heels from a blind spot, do not let it result in stagnation. This verse emphasizes the need to keep moving forward despite your doubts. This verse also emphasizes a trust in God’s plan that is central to the composure of great leaders. CEOs looking for strategies to overcome blind spots need to know that no outcomes are guaranteed; ultimately trusting God should shift a leader’s perspective from fear to hope. As this verse states, the work that results in profit cannot always be predicted or assumed. We are called to try new things, take risks, and trust God “who does all things.”
3. Stay Curious, Flexible, and Innovative
Our work’s success is not always predictable and developing an ability to pivot plans and innovate is important. Sometimes, the largest blind spots form when we become stuck in our ways. This can look like trusting the strategies that have worked in the past to continue working indefinitely, or ignoring cultural changes because they do not agree with your long standing models. Avoid blind spots by staying curious and flexible. Consider this verse from Romans 12 verse 2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Curiosity in action looks a lot like innovation, and by leaning on faith when navigating blind spots, great leaders innovate according to God’s will.
If you are a CEO looking for more ways to strategize while navigating blind spots, joining a Convene group is a great opportunity to gain feedback, pinpoint blind spots you may be missing, learn from peers and their experiences, and gain insight on how other CEOs and leaders use faith to ride through blind spots. 85% of members outperform their competition, and 97% attribute transformation in their business, life, and faith to their Convene experience. Become a Convene member to connect over the unique challenges business leaders face and experience great success by integrating God’s kingdom principles into your role as a leader.