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Are You Indecisive? Blind Spot #9

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This is the ninth of 10 blind spots that may be sabotaging your effectiveness.

 

Blind Spot #9—Not Taking a Stand. What it Means.    

Do you avoid making decisions, postpone them, or make decisions that are unclear? Does this apply to you?  If it does, you don’t take a stand for what you want and you’re letting others down.

The Downside of Sitting on the Fence    

Do you delay decisions much too long?  Or, do you avoid making them altogether?  If your answer is “yes”, your behavior drives everyone crazy. Your lack of decisiveness cripples your coworkers and team.  No one can move forward. To others, you’re a fence-sitter, someone who stares off into the clouds contemplating a decision without regard to the consequences of not making one.

Your indecisive behavior is a sure-fire recipe for your own ineffectiveness.  Others will lose their enthusiasm when you don’t take a stand.  They will disengage and look for someone who is strong and decisive. Your name will be on the short list of people to avoid.

 

Do YOU Avoid Taking a Stand?    

Ask others to assess your behavior using the scale of 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently).

Power Point Blind Spot 9

 

 

How do you rate?

32 to 40:    Your indecisiveness is not an attractive or useful quality. People may like you, but they won’t follow you.

17 to 31:    You’re inconsistent.  Make a decision and take a bold stand. This is what people want from you.

8 to 16:      Others appreciate your willingness to go out on the skinny branches. Keep being decisive as long as your decisions forward the action.

Want More?

Read the book Fearless Leadership and the anti-blogs on the 10 Blind Spots.

 

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Do You Conspire against Others? Blind Spot #7

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This is the seventh of 10 blind spots that may be sabotaging your effectiveness.

 

Blind Spot #7—Conspiring Against Others. What it Means   

Conspiring is a strong but necessary word when it comes to describing this lethal blind spot.

People who conspire against others: 1) Actively participate in negative conversations about an individual/group that is not present, 2) Silently endorse negative comments about others by not speaking up, or 3) Attack others’ credibility which raises suspicions.

The Downside of Building Silos and Camps 

Do you participate in deadly water-cooler conversations?  Do you silently endorse nasty attacks on others?  Do you influence others to agree with your negative viewpoint?

If you engage in conspiracies—actively or passively—you are on a guaranteed path of destruction. People will view you as a snake and shun you. Even your co-conspirators—the people who agree with you—will not trust you.  They know you will throw them under the bus in a moment and they’re correct.

You’ll lose it all—friends, trust, job promotions.

 

Do YOU Conspire against Others?   

Ask others to assess your behavior using the scale of 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently).

Malandro Blind Spot 7

How do you rate?

32 to 40:    You are profoundly hurt, disappointed, and/or angry and it’s showing in your behavior.  Stop! You are self-destructing.

17 to 31:    Sometimes you’re good; sometimes you’re horrid. Do you want this reputation? Apologize and get on a constructive path.

8 to 16:       You steer clear of negative conversations.  But do you stand up for others?

Want More?

Read the book Fearless Leadership and the anti-blogs on the 10 Blind Spots.

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Dr. Loretta Malandro is the CEO of the Malandro Consulting Group (www.malandro.com) and the author of several landmark business communication books including: Fearless Leadership, Say It Right the First Time, and her new book, “Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out: The 9 Communication Rules You Need to Succeed”.

Do You Make Slippery Commitments? Blind Spot #6

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This is the sixth of 10 blind spots that may be sabotaging your effectiveness.

 

Blind Spot #6—Treating Commitments Casually. What it Means   

A casual commitment is the lack of a clear “no” response, a clear “yes” response, or the lack of a specific timeframe or deadline.

If you use hedging words such as “maybe, perhaps, sometime, or soon” you may be a master at making empty promises.

Do you ever say “let’s have coffee (or lunch, dinner) sometime.”  The word “sometimes” makes this a casual promise. Without a specific date and time, this is an invitation to nothing.

The Downside of Making Slippery Commitments 

Do you avoid giving a clear “yes” or “no” response?  Do you make promises but conveniently leave out when something is going to happen?

If you do, you have learned how to escape being held accountable. No one can point the finger at you because you’re ready with your glib response: “I never said I would do “x” by such-and-such date”.

Oh, you are smooth but you’re paying a high price for your slippery communication. People will dismiss your words because you are all talk and no action. You will lose credibility, trust, relationships, and opportunities. Is this enough to get your attention?

 

Do YOU Make Casual Commitments?   

Ask others to assess your behavior using the scale of 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently).

Blind Spot 6 Malandro

 

How do you rate?

32 to 40:    WOW!  You are a master of slippery commitments.  How’s this working for you?

17 to 31:    Your inconsistent promises get you in trouble.  Clean it up.

8 to 16:       You are good—you make and keep your commitments.  Keep up the rigor.

Want More?

Read the book Fearless Leadership and the anti-blogs on the 10 Blind Spots.

 

Anti Blog

 

Dr. Loretta Malandro is the CEO of the Malandro Consulting Group (www.malandro.com) and the author of several landmark business communication books including: Fearless Leadership, Say It Right the First Time, and her new book, “Speak Up, Show Up, and Stand Out: The 9 Communication Rules You Need to Succeed”.

 

Are You Insensitive? Blind Spot #2

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This is the second of 10 blind spots that can sabotage your effectiveness.

Blind Spot #2—Being Insensitive to Your Impact on Others.  What It Means.   

Do you miss the verbal and nonverbal cues of others?  If you do, you may have a low threshold for recognizing when your own words and behaviors have a less-than-desirable impact.

If you have this second blind spot—being insensitive to your impact on others—it means one of two things:  1) You lack awareness about how your behavior affects others, or 2) You lack the skills to know how to change your behavior to have a positive impact.

The Downside of Missing or Ignoring Cues 

Are you shocked by how people react to things you say or do?  If you are, you may be insensitive to your impact on others.  Although your intention is not to provoke a negative reaction in people, your behavior sends a different message.

If you are insensitive to others, it’s likely that you do not recognize how your words or actions make people feel.  You will miss important cues and you will leave people feeling irritated, resentful, disrespected, angry, or hurt.

 

Are YOU Insensitive to Your Impact on Others?   

Ask others to assess your behavior using the scale of 1 (rarely) to 5 (frequently).

blind spots

How do you rate?

32 to 40:    Warning—your insensitivity is highly insensitive. You miss even the most basic cues from others.  Read this several times.

17 to 31:    You are basically a sensitive person with insensitive behaviors.  Close the gap.

8 to 16:       You pick up the cues of others and respond appropriately.   Keep refining your skills.

Want More?

Read the book Fearless Leadership and the anti-blogs on The 10 Blind Spots.

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