In
medicine, the blind spot is the area in the visual field, which corresponds to
the zone on the optic disc of the retina in your eyes, where there is a lack of
light-detecting photoreceptor cells.
The brain interpolates the missing
input-data, which is not available in the area of your blind spot, based on
information details gained from the surroundings, as well as information
obtained from the other eye, so that we are usually not aware of the blind
spot’s existence.
Similarly,
in our personal or business blind spot, we may seem to be unable to take in new
information. Our past experiences have shaped and cemented our beliefs,
assumptions, and expectations of how the world works to such an extent, that we
have literally become blind to what is really going on in and around us in such
an area. We interpolate, making assumptions about what is going on around us,
based on factors we are no longer conscious of, forces at work in our blind
spot which are no longer under our control.
Most of
these subconscious programs were probably originally well intentioned, designed
and created to help, support and protect us!
But more often
than not, the forces active in our blind spot will sabotage our ability to make
effective decisions to change our life and our business for the better. I see
these forces at work virtually every time I coach corporate clients, executives
and business owners, although they are usually not consciously aware of what is
going on under the surface.
I frequently find that the forces active in the
blind spot include:
-
An
unwillingness or inability to engage in creative, constructive conflict, both
within the organization, as well as with external stakeholders
- Emotional
disengagement or employee inertia, due to excessive change initiatives, project
overload, leadership fire-fighting, and an overall lack of direction
- Negative
associations with projects, products and processes that failed in the past
- Difficult
clients, markets or product segments employees have learned to avoid
- Opportunities
business leaders no longer pursue due to past issues, perceived potential risk,
or the lack of low-hanging fruit to create short-term success
- Assumptions
about what is permitted, compliant, politically correct – and what not
- Extrapolating
past experiences to predict future developments of market trends, economies,
buyer behaviour, the competitive landscape
- Etc.
But in my
executive coaching engagements, I have usually found very positive factors to
be present and active in the business blind spot, too! According to my
experience these often include:
- Untapped innovation potential, stifled under a blanket of politically correct, streamlined management power-talk
- Process
improvement know-how and employees’ implicit ability to make better decisions
on the shop floor than what the executives dream up in their ivory towers
- Market
intelligence and intimate customer knowledge which is often left untapped even
by the most sophisticated CRM or touch point management systems
- Game-changing
business ideas employees work on in their spare time, because they don’t
believe their company would value their input
- Contacts
to thought leaders, political movers and shakers, potential business partners,
and possible affiliates which employees are acquainted with, but would never
share as contacts with their employer
- Etc.
Your blind
spot usually is the direct result of your perceptual filters, including your
formal and informal business values, rules and beliefs. Understanding what is
really going on in your personal or corporate blind spot is often a critical key
to creating a real breakthrough in your business.
Find out more
about how you can turn your blind spot
into your sweet spot at