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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Leadership Blindspots summary
Robert Bruce Shaw
How Successful Leaders Identify and Overcome the Weaknesses that Matter
15 mins
Brief summary
Leadership Blindspots by Robert Bruce Shaw is a guide for leaders to identify and address critical areas of weakness that can derail their performance and hinder organizational success. It offers practical insights and tools to overcome blindspots and build more effective leadership skills.
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Leadership Blindspots
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Blind spots are unrecognized weaknesses or threats that can undermine your success.
They say that “pride comes before a fall.” When you are at your most confident you are also at your greatest risk of a defeat or set back. Why is this the case?
Well, even when we feel we’re at our most powerful, there are sure to be hidden blind spots. Indeed, even the most experienced leaders have blind spots that can cause them huge problems if they aren’t careful.
Even a great visionary like Steve Jobs suffered from blind spots, despite his reputation for success.
Although effective, Jobs’ leadership style angered many of his colleagues. For example, he would refuse to see any information that didn’t support his views, and would simply ignore those who disagreed with him.
Worse still, Jobs had zero awareness that people harbored negative feelings about him. His belief in his own greatness shrouded his perception.
This blind spot eventually had massive consequences when he got into a quarrel with Apple CEO John Sculley. Jobs demanded that the board remove his rival, yet faced with the ultimatum of keeping either Jobs or Sculley, the board warned that it would be the divisive Jobs who would be packing his bags.
Leadership blind spots can have catastrophic consequences, and the more power a leader has within a company, the greater the consequences of her blind spot.
Take Ron Johnson, for example, who did wonders as a retail leader at Target and Apple before being snatched up by JCPenney as their new CEO. JCPenney hoped he would transform the company, and gave him plenty of power to do so. This was a huge mistake.
In his arrogance, he made sweeping changes, including deep price cuts. His confidence hid his lack of knowledge about the company’s values and image, and ultimately resulted in a loss of $1 billion in the first year as JCPenney lost its traditional customers.
Clearly, blind spots can be severely damaging for your company and career. In the following blinks, we’ll examine how you can identify your own personal blind spots.
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What is Leadership Blindspots about?
Leadership Blindspots is all about the unknowns that set us back – the gaps in our skills, knowledge and understanding that cause our business efficiency and problem-solving skills to falter. By following the techniques outlined in this book, you can effectively identify and eliminate your own blind spots.
Leadership Blindspots Review
Leadership Blindspots (2014) by Robert Bruce Shaw is a valuable read for anyone interested in honing their leadership skills. Here's why this book is worth your time:
- Full of insightful analyses and case studies, it exposes the common blindspots that leaders often overlook, helping readers identify and address them for greater effectiveness.
- Rooted in research and practical examples, it offers actionable strategies to prevent and overcome blindspots, equipping leaders with the tools to make better decisions and lead more effectively.
- By exploring the impact of blindspots on leadership and organizations, the book takes a thought-provoking approach, keeping readers engaged and invested in their own growth.
Who should read Leadership Blindspots?
- Anyone interested in psychology
- Leaders interested in improving their performance and tackling risks and threats
- Employees who want to help their leaders be successful
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Leadership Blindspots FAQs
What is the main message of Leadership Blindspots?
Leadership Blindspots highlights the importance of identifying and addressing our own blindspots to become effective leaders.
How long does it take to read Leadership Blindspots?
The reading time for Leadership Blindspots varies. However, the Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Leadership Blindspots a good book? Is it worth reading?
Leadership Blindspots is a valuable read for leaders aiming to improve. It unveils hidden challenges and provides practical strategies to enhance leadership effectiveness.
Who is the author of Leadership Blindspots?
Robert Bruce Shaw is the author of Leadership Blindspots.
What to read after Leadership Blindspots?
If you're wondering what to read next after Leadership Blindspots, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Maximize Your Potential by Jocelyn K. Glei
- Will It Fly? by Pat Flynn
- Leadership Is an Art by Max De Pree
- Reboot by Jerry Colonna
- 12 Rules For Life by Jordan B. Peterson
- Living the 80/20 Way by Richard Koch
- Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Raising Mentally Strong Kids by Amen MD Daniel G. & Charles Fay
- Emotional Intelligence for Project Managers by Anthony Mersino