Speaker 1: Helping leaders motivate their people to a higher level of
Speaker 1: performance through strong human relations, team building, and golajving. This
Speaker 1: is the seven Minute Leadership Podcast with your host Paul
Speaker 1: Fello Aledo.
Speaker 2: Hello everyone, and welcome to the seven Minute Leadership Podcast.
Speaker 2: It's episode two twenty one and today it's a topic
Speaker 2: that every leader must confront. Blind spots in your plans.
Speaker 2: Whether you're crafting a strategic vision or leading day to
Speaker 2: day operations, blind spots can derail even the best plans.
Speaker 2: The good news is with the right mindset and tools,
Speaker 2: you can uncover the hidden obstacles before they cause problems.
Speaker 2: Blind spots are gaps in our awareness, things we overlook
Speaker 2: that can hinder our success. They exist because of assumptions.
Speaker 2: Biases are simply because we're too close to the work
Speaker 2: to see the bigger picture. And here's a real example.
Speaker 2: In the early two thousands, Blockbuster ignored the rise of
Speaker 2: streaming technology because they assume people would always prefer physical rentals. Meanwhile,
Speaker 2: Netflix identified that blind spot and build a billion dollar empire.
Speaker 2: Blockbuster's oversight cost them the market. And here's a leadership truth.
Speaker 2: Identifying blind spots isn't about avoiding mistakes. Altogether, it's about
Speaker 2: catching them early enough to adapt. So let's talk about
Speaker 2: some of the most common blind spots leaders face. Number one,
Speaker 2: over confidence in the plan. Thinking your plan is fool
Speaker 2: proof can prevent you from considering potential risks or alternative scenarios.
Speaker 2: Number two ignoring feedback from others. Leaders sometimes dismiss differing opinions,
Speaker 2: but these perspectives often reveal critical blind spots. Number three
Speaker 2: failure to adapt rigid plans that don't account for change,
Speaker 2: whether it's market shifts, team dynamics, or unexpected events. This
Speaker 2: is the we've always done it that way. Blind spot.
Speaker 2: Number four's underestimating resource needs. Many plans fail because leaders
Speaker 2: assume they have more time, budget, or manpower than they
Speaker 2: actually do. Number five's overlooking team capabilities. Assuming everyone understands
Speaker 2: or can execute your plan without adequate training or context
Speaker 2: can lead to bottlenecks. So how do you find the
Speaker 2: blind spots hiding in your plans? You have to conduct
Speaker 2: what's called a pre mortem, and this is a meeting
Speaker 2: you have where, instead of thinking this plan is going
Speaker 2: to succeed, ask your team what could cause this plan
Speaker 2: to fail? Gather your team and brainstorm the potential pitfalls
Speaker 2: because this proactive approach, which can uncover risks you haven't
Speaker 2: considered and can potentially save you a lot of time
Speaker 2: and money. And the other one is seek external perspectives.
Speaker 2: Sometimes we're too close to our plans to see the
Speaker 2: flaws in them. Bring in trusted advisors, mentors, or even
Speaker 2: a consultant to review your strategy with a fresh set
Speaker 2: of eyes. And finally, embrace dissent. Actively encourage your team
Speaker 2: to challenge your ideas. Create a safe environment where people
Speaker 2: feel comfortable pointing out weaknesses. Often the most junior team
Speaker 2: members spot the issues senior leaders overlook. And here's a
Speaker 2: pro tip, keep an open mind during this process. The
Speaker 2: goal isn't to defend your plan, it's to make it better.
Speaker 2: In another real world example, when Toyota first expanded into
Speaker 2: the US market, they underestimated how much American customers valued larger,
Speaker 2: more comfortable vehicles. Their initial car models didn't resonate with
Speaker 2: the market, but instead of doubling down, they listen to feedback,
Speaker 2: adapted their designs, and introduced models like the Camera and
Speaker 2: the Corolla, and today they're one of the top automakers
Speaker 2: in the United States. So this week I challenge you
Speaker 2: to uncover a blind spot in one of your current plans.
Speaker 2: Start with these steps. Schedule a team meeting to conduct
Speaker 2: a pre mortem. Ask what could go wrong with this plan,
Speaker 2: and then share your plan with someone outside your team
Speaker 2: for a fresh perspective. And invite at least one dissenting
Speaker 2: opinion from your team and genuinely listen to their feedback.
Speaker 2: Take the insights you gather and refine your plan accordingly.
Speaker 2: You will not only improve your outcomes, but build trust
Speaker 2: with your team. So no plan is perfect, but the
Speaker 2: best leaders are those who constantly look for ways to
Speaker 2: strengthen their strategies and their plans. Identifying blind spots as
Speaker 2: a skill that requires humility, curiosity, and a willingness to adapt.
Speaker 2: Swallow your ego. You may think you just painted a monet,
Speaker 2: and a fresh set of eyes may tell you something different.
Speaker 2: Most flaws and plans are in plain sight. Remember it's
Speaker 2: not about being perfect, It's about being prepared and a
Speaker 2: willingness to adapt and refine your plan. This has been
Speaker 2: the seven minute Leadership podcast, and I thank you for listening.
Speaker 1: For more, Paul Fell of Alito Podcasts, visit paulfellowalito dot
Speaker 1: com