Leadership Blindspots by Robert Bruce Shaw Summary
Overview of Leadership Blindspots
Discover why even the most successful leaders fail. "Leadership Blindspots" reveals how Steve Jobs' arrogance and Ron Johnson's JCPenney disaster stemmed from unrecognized weaknesses. What dangerous blindspot might be sabotaging your leadership right now?
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Key takeaways
The Blindspot Paradox: Why Smart Leaders Make Dumb Mistakes
Even the most brilliant leaders can miss what's right in front of them. Consider Ron Johnson, whose retail genius at Apple couldn't prevent him from losing $1 billion in his first year at JCPenney by ignoring customer needs. Or Jamie Dimon dismissing JPMorgan's "London Whale" trading issue as "a tempest in a teapot" weeks before facing billions in losses. These weren't simple errors but blindspot-driven disasters where they failed to see what was obvious to others. What makes blindspots so dangerous is their paradoxical nature. They often exist alongside our greatest strengths - visionaries may dismiss contrary information; analytical minds might fail to inspire. Even more troubling, awareness doesn't guarantee elimination - we often revert to problematic patterns even after recognizing them. Perhaps most surprisingly, some blindspots can actually be beneficial. They protect us from paralyzing doubt, helping us push forward despite uncertainty. When Tom Watson Sr. renamed his small regional business "International Business Machines" despite its humble beginnings, his optimistic vision helped create one of the world's most successful companies. Sara Blakely credits her lack of industry knowledge as key to founding Spanx - had she known the conventional "rules" of manufacturing and retail, she might never have attempted her revolutionary approach. The real challenge isn't eliminating all blindspots but finding the optimal balance - being confident enough to inspire while remaining grounded in reality.
The Four Quadrants of Leadership Awareness
The Twenty Blindspots That Derail Careers
Why Blindspots Persist Despite Our Best Intentions
Breaking Through the Isolation Barrier
Creating Teams That Challenge Your Thinking
The Ongoing Challenge of Leadership Awareness
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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