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<v Speaker 1>Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of

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<v Speaker 1>performance through strong human relations, team building, and golajving. This

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<v Speaker 1>is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul

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<v Speaker 1>Fello Aledo.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello everyone, and welcome to the seven Minute Leadership Podcast.

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<v Speaker 2>It's episode two twenty one and today it's a topic

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<v Speaker 2>that every leader must confront. Blind spots in your plans.

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<v Speaker 2>Whether you're crafting a strategic vision or leading day to

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<v Speaker 2>day operations, blind spots can derail even the best plans.

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<v Speaker 2>The good news is with the right mindset and tools,

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<v Speaker 2>you can uncover the hidden obstacles before they cause problems.

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<v Speaker 2>Blind spots are gaps in our awareness, things we overlook

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<v Speaker 2>that can hinder our success. They exist because of assumptions.

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<v Speaker 2>Biases are simply because we're too close to the work

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<v Speaker 2>to see the bigger picture. And here's a real example.

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<v Speaker 2>In the early two thousands, Blockbuster ignored the rise of

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<v Speaker 2>streaming technology because they assume people would always prefer physical rentals. Meanwhile,

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<v Speaker 2>Netflix identified that blind spot and build a billion dollar empire.

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<v Speaker 2>Blockbuster's oversight cost them the market. And here's a leadership truth.

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<v Speaker 2>Identifying blind spots isn't about avoiding mistakes. Altogether, it's about

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<v Speaker 2>catching them early enough to adapt. So let's talk about

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<v Speaker 2>some of the most common blind spots leaders face. Number one,

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<v Speaker 2>over confidence in the plan. Thinking your plan is fool

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<v Speaker 2>proof can prevent you from considering potential risks or alternative scenarios.

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<v Speaker 2>Number two ignoring feedback from others. Leaders sometimes dismiss differing opinions,

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<v Speaker 2>but these perspectives often reveal critical blind spots. Number three

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<v Speaker 2>failure to adapt rigid plans that don't account for change,

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<v Speaker 2>whether it's market shifts, team dynamics, or unexpected events. This

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<v Speaker 2>is the we've always done it that way. Blind spot.

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<v Speaker 2>Number four's underestimating resource needs. Many plans fail because leaders

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<v Speaker 2>assume they have more time, budget, or manpower than they

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<v Speaker 2>actually do. Number five's overlooking team capabilities. Assuming everyone understands

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<v Speaker 2>or can execute your plan without adequate training or context

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<v Speaker 2>can lead to bottlenecks. So how do you find the

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<v Speaker 2>blind spots hiding in your plans? You have to conduct

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<v Speaker 2>what's called a pre mortem, and this is a meeting

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<v Speaker 2>you have where, instead of thinking this plan is going

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<v Speaker 2>to succeed, ask your team what could cause this plan

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<v Speaker 2>to fail? Gather your team and brainstorm the potential pitfalls

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<v Speaker 2>because this proactive approach, which can uncover risks you haven't

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<v Speaker 2>considered and can potentially save you a lot of time

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<v Speaker 2>and money. And the other one is seek external perspectives.

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<v Speaker 2>Sometimes we're too close to our plans to see the

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<v Speaker 2>flaws in them. Bring in trusted advisors, mentors, or even

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<v Speaker 2>a consultant to review your strategy with a fresh set

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<v Speaker 2>of eyes. And finally, embrace dissent. Actively encourage your team

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<v Speaker 2>to challenge your ideas. Create a safe environment where people

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<v Speaker 2>feel comfortable pointing out weaknesses. Often the most junior team

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<v Speaker 2>members spot the issues senior leaders overlook. And here's a

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<v Speaker 2>pro tip, keep an open mind during this process. The

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<v Speaker 2>goal isn't to defend your plan, it's to make it better.

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<v Speaker 2>In another real world example, when Toyota first expanded into

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<v Speaker 2>the US market, they underestimated how much American customers valued larger,

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<v Speaker 2>more comfortable vehicles. Their initial car models didn't resonate with

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<v Speaker 2>the market, but instead of doubling down, they listen to feedback,

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<v Speaker 2>adapted their designs, and introduced models like the Camera and

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<v Speaker 2>the Corolla, and today they're one of the top automakers

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<v Speaker 2>in the United States. So this week I challenge you

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<v Speaker 2>to uncover a blind spot in one of your current plans.

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<v Speaker 2>Start with these steps. Schedule a team meeting to conduct

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<v Speaker 2>a pre mortem. Ask what could go wrong with this plan,

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<v Speaker 2>and then share your plan with someone outside your team

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<v Speaker 2>for a fresh perspective. And invite at least one dissenting

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<v Speaker 2>opinion from your team and genuinely listen to their feedback.

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<v Speaker 2>Take the insights you gather and refine your plan accordingly.

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<v Speaker 2>You will not only improve your outcomes, but build trust

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<v Speaker 2>with your team. So no plan is perfect, but the

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<v Speaker 2>best leaders are those who constantly look for ways to

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<v Speaker 2>strengthen their strategies and their plans. Identifying blind spots as

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<v Speaker 2>a skill that requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to adapt.

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<v Speaker 2>Swallow your ego. You may think you just painted a monet,

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<v Speaker 2>and a fresh set of eyes may tell you something different.

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<v Speaker 2>Most flaws and plans are in plain sight. Remember it's

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<v Speaker 2>not about being perfect, It's about being prepared and a

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<v Speaker 2>willingness to adapt and refine your plan. This has been

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<v Speaker 2>the seven minute Leadership podcast, and I thank you for listening.

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<v Speaker 1>For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot

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<v Speaker 1>com