How to Prevent Organizational Death from Blind Spots | Dr. Steven Shepard | TEDxWarrenton

TL;DR

Blind spots are a major organizational killer and can hinder personal and professional growth.

Transcript

let me Begin by telling you a story in the strange and far off times oh best Beloved the elephant had no trunk he had just a bulgy blackish nose as big as a boot that he could wriggle about from side to side but he couldn't pick up things with it but there was one elephant a young elephant an elephant's child who was filled with satiable curtiosity... Read More

Key Insights

• 🙈 Blind spots are beliefs or perceptions that hinder personal and professional growth.
• 😨 Blind spots can result from fear of punishment, acceptance of the status quo, or negative self-perception.
• 😷 Seeking external perspectives and asking questions can help identify and address blind spots.
• 🙈 Acting on the answers provided by external perspectives can remove blind spots and drive personal and organizational improvement.
• 🙈 Blind spots in organizations can hinder innovation, growth, and adaptation to change.
• 🙈 Challenging the status quo and seeking improvements is essential for overcoming blind spots.
• 🙈 Blind spots can be turned into advantages by seeing them through a different set of eyes.

Questions & Answers

Q: What were the two blind spots that the elephant's child had?

The first blind spot was the belief that he would be punished for asking questions. The second blind spot was his negative perception of his disfigured nose.

Q: How did the python help the elephant's child overcome his blind spots?

The python made the elephant's child realize that his blind spots weren't disadvantages but had advantages. The python helped him see his disfigurement as a useful tool and changed his perception of asking questions.

Q: Why are blind spots dangerous in organizations?

Blind spots make us accept the status quo and prevent us from seeing areas for improvement. They hinder growth, innovation, and the ability to adapt to change.

Q: What is the solution to overcoming blind spots?

Seeking external perspectives from someone who understands your role can help identify blind spots. Asking five simple questions about your job and being open to acting on the answers can remove blind spots.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The elephant's child in the story had blind spots that nearly led to his demise: belief that asking questions leads to punishment and a disfigurement that made him feel inferior.

• Blind spots are dangerous because they make us accept the status quo and hinder progress.

• The solution is to seek external perspectives and ask questions to identify and address blind spots.