BLIND SPOTS
Objects in the mirror (yes, that means you) aren’t always what they appear to be

By Bill Knoche

Illustration by James Turner

A SUPERSTAR RUNNER stumbles at the finish line. A top-ranked Olympic figure skater falls at the moment of possible immortality. A popular politician is touched by scandal just when things seem like they can never go wrong. A highly talented and gifted businessperson is about to close the deal of a lifetime—it’s a go, but the deal is never completed.

It’s with a sense of shock that we view these events. We wonder what they were thinking. What was really motivating them at the moment of their downfall? What was the fatal, tragic flaw? The media immediately shift into overdrive and trot out an impressive array of experts and analysts to help us decipher the underlining causes. But what about us, the non-media darlings? Do we subject ourselves to behaviour that prevents us from reaching our highest level of potential in business life? Who are our own expert analysts who will answer these questions in the context of our careers? Who will be the objective voice in our lives?

Part of my job as a business coach is to guide people along a path of inner understanding to true awareness, to get them to see what may be stopping them in their journey to success. I do this knowing that we all have blind spots. It’s like driving a car with a defective rear-view mirror. It’s only after we change lanes and smack into that unseen car that we become aware of the blind spot.

In our personal lives, blind spots are much more insidious. Even after we crash a few times, we still might not see why it is happening. Have you ever known someone who repeatedly moves from one dysfunctional relationship to the next, and ultimately is dissatisfied? This scenario speaks to the subtle, yet pervasive, nature of our blind spots.

The simple cause for this starts with the human ego, which solves complex problems and invents elaborate strategies that are meant to protect us. Unfortunately, these same defence mechanisms can become burdensome, hindering the development of our personal and professional lives without our being aware of it. We can become resigned to being satisfied with what we are used to, even when there can be so much more. Identifying our blind spots is crucial to understanding what is truly going on inside us. Only then can we balance our ego and become aware of and “see” our blind spots.

Many of our blind spots are ingrained in us from past experience. They represent a myriad of events from our family lives, relationships, educational experiences and socio-economic status. The irony is that our blind spots were once functional and, in fact, helped us survive. This is what makes them very difficult to perceive and understand. Some experiences may be so painful (or cyclical) that the ego obligingly buries them deep in the subconscious. That’s unfortunate because if they are lodged in the subconscious, it is the subconscious that actually runs our lives.

Awareness of these blind spots is an invaluable asset in business dealings. It’s a way of consistently checking over our shoulder before we change lanes. When we look at ourselves unflinchingly in the mirror, an even greater reward awaits. It may produce a whole new world of possibilities and hidden strengths. For example, the difference between making a good deal and a great deal could simply be in overcoming an unconscious fear of authority figures.

In one-on-one situations with executives and business owners, a coach can work with clients on a daily or even hourly basis, particularly if there is a big deal at stake. An effective coach must be willing to shake hands with the devil: he must engage with the executive’s ego and be daring enough to challenge and confront it head on. Alerting clients to the devilish nature of their blind spots is a rewarding experience for both parties.

Some people believe that friends and mentors can do the job of a business coach. Perhaps, but friends and mentors tend to say what you want to hear, what you have always heard. Your ego likes that. It is comfortable with them or else they wouldn’t be your friends and mentors in the first place. These people and other business professionals are great when it comes to devising specific business directions or strategies and supporting whatever genius you have already shown the world. However, when it comes to having your full powers at work in business and in your personal life, objectivity is essential. From there, you can begin creating your own path to becoming conscious of your blind spots.

Bill Knoche is president of Integra Enterprises, a new-business-development
and coaching company based in Hamburg, N.Y. He has been coaching
for the past 10 years in upstate New York and Toronto.