Watch those blind spots

It’s a rare person who wants to hear what he doesn't want to hear. – Dick Cavett

This week was an interesting one: entirely too busy, overwhelmingly challenging and far too emotional. My previous blog entry was about making time and creating space for others to be heard. What, though, if someone is saying something that is really difficult to hear? What if they’re saying something about you (!) and your functioning?

Stretched to capacity and potentially about to snap were a little more pressure applied, I was faced with the reality of listening to a friend point out an aspect of my functioning that wasn’t having a very positive effect on others. It wasn’t easy to hear. But the truth is – I really needed to hear it.

Blind spots are part of our functioning whether we realize it or not, whether we like it or not and whether we embrace it or not. Those little things we do or say (or even think) that we're unaware of, or the effect of which we somehow don't entirely grasp. They're called blind spots for a reason - we just don't see them! We need someone else to turn our head in that direction and alert us as to what's going on there. The beautiful thing is this: inasmuch as we encourage and rely on those around us to do this, we are able to take corrective action, adjust appropriately and carry on growing.

I so appreciate the fact that my friend had the courage and grace to ‘say it like it is’. It brought me to a rather sudden halt but enabled me to see things for what they really are.

We’re all blundering human beings. Or at least, I most certainly am. Best I make myself vulnerable enough to allow those I trust to assist me along the way - especially when the person doing the talking has your best interests at heart.

Two important leadership lessons this week:
1 – Be brave enough to talk candidly when necessary. And do so in love.
2 – Be wise enough to listen when you’re the one spoken to.