Are You Leading Blind?

This may seem obvious, but to maximize your positive impact on others and this world, you must first identify how you positively impact others. You must identify your authentic leadership strengths.

Perhaps less obvious – is it possible you have leadership strengths you don’t know about?

An unknown strength is a blind spot. Blind spots can limit your potential as a leader and contributor. And sadly, the world does not get to experience the best you.

Don’t let that happen.

In his book, Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham said, “the best way to pinpoint your talents is to monitor your behavior and your feelings over an extended period of time.â€

With this in mind, take some time to consider what you do best.

Reflect on your past successes.

Take a step back, and reflect on some questions such as:

• When have I energized people around me? What exactly was I doing that contributed to their energy?
• When have I felt most energized when taking the lead on something?
• How have I inspired others around me to accomplish something meaningful?
• How have I best supported others’ pursuits of their goals and dreams?
• When my team achieved a worthy goal or overcame a significant challenge, what was the role I played best? What was I specifically doing?

Ask others for feedback.

Don’t just stop with yourself as a source of feedback. If you are not asking others what they perceive to be your strengths, then your perspective is limited. And blind spots can continue.

Ask others for periodic feedback:

• What do you think I do best?
• What are the ways I have been most supportive of you? (This type of question can be easier to answer because it is about the other person, too.)
• When have you noticed me having a positive impact on our team? What was I doing specifically?

They may not have answers right away. Be persistent. If they aren’t sure what to say the first time you inquire, let them know you will be asking periodically because you value their input. The next time you ask, they will probably have answers. They will be on the look-out for what your strengths are. Keep asking.

Make the time to regularly reflect on and explore your strengths. Solicit feedback from others about them. Then, you will start to learn more about how you can maximize your positive impact on others and the world.