Blind Spots in Life and Work: How a Coach Helps

Most people think of a blind spot as the thing you can't see while looking left, right, and center while driving. 

Considering changing lanes? 

You better make sure you don't have a blind spot, right?

There's another kind of blind spot.  It's the thoughts you don't see.  The assumptions you  make.  The biases you carry internally.

By definition, we usually can't detect our own blind spots directly.  We may only discover them through feedback, mistakes, or when someone else points them out - Even when made aware, they can be difficult to fully perceive.

Awareness of blind spots itself doesn't automatically remove them - it's an ongoing process of discovery and adjustment.  This is an area where life coaches can be invaluable.  We have strategies to uncover blond spots so that our clients can become aware of them, process the information, and remove them.  

Here are five areas where coaches can help in uncovering these missing pieces of information that could be helpful to you in moving forward with your goals and dreams.  

1. Objective Outside Perspective - We are not emotionally invested in your current patterns or beliefs.  We can observe behaviors and thought patterns you've normalized and we have no personal stake in maintaining your status quo.  Also, we can point out inconsistencies between stated goals and actions.  

Coaches provide an unbiased view of your life, behaviors, and choices. Unlike friends or family, who may tiptoe around sensitive issues or unknowingly reinforce your patterns, coaches are impartial and focused solely on your growth.

• Example of a Blind Spot: You might believe you’re not progressing in your career due to external factors like a difficult boss or lack of opportunities. A coach might observe that your hesitation to advocate for yourself in meetings or reluctance to network is the true underlying issue. By pointing this out, they can help you adopt assertiveness strategies or develop a networking plan.
• How Coaches Help: They can highlight these discrepancies between your stated goals and actions and suggest practical steps to align them.

2. Professional Training in Pattern Recognition - Coaches are trained to identify limiting beliefs and self-sabotaging behavior.  In addition, we are experienced in recognizing common psychological barriers, skilled at asking probing questions that reveal hidden assumptions, and can help connect dots between different areas of life.

Coaches are skilled at identifying recurring themes in your thoughts and behaviors that might be holding you back. They are trained to notice limiting beliefs, self-sabotaging tendencies, and other obstacles you may be too close to see.

• Example of a Blind Spot: You may constantly overcommit your time, believing that saying "no" will make others view you as unhelpful or lazy. A coach might recognize this as a pattern stemming from a deep-seated need for validation and help you reframe your mindset around setting boundaries.
• How Coaches Help: Through probing questions like “What happens when you prioritize your needs?” or “What’s the worst outcome of saying no?”, coaches can help uncover the emotional drivers behind these patterns and work on healthier alternatives.

3. Safe Space for Exploration - Coaches create an environment where you can be vulnerable and there are no judgments about discoveries made.  Professional boundaries allow for honest feedback, regular accountability and follow-up.  Coaches create a judgment-free zone where you can delve into your thoughts, fears, and aspirations without fear of rejection or criticism. This allows for deeper self-reflection and honesty, which can be difficult to achieve with friends or family who may have their own emotional stakes in your life.

• Example of a Blind Spot: You may feel unhappy in your relationship but are afraid to explore the reasons because of guilt or fear of hurting your partner. A coach provides a neutral space to talk through your feelings, helping you identify whether the issue lies in unmet personal needs, communication breakdowns, or mismatched values.
• How Coaches Help: They might guide you through exercises like journaling about your ideal relationship or role-playing difficult conversations to help you gain clarity and take action.

4. Structured Approach - Coaches use specific tools and frameworks to uncover blind spots.  We help develop action plans to address discovered areas.   We also provide methods for ongoing self-awareness.  We also offer specific techniques for breaking unhelpful patterns.

Coaches bring tools, frameworks, and proven methodologies to the table, which can help uncover and address blind spots systematically. This structure ensures you not only recognize your blind spots but also have a clear action plan to move forward.

• Example of a Blind Spot: You want to improve your health but keep failing to stick to an exercise routine. A coach might notice that you set overly ambitious goals that don’t fit into your current lifestyle, leading to repeated failures.
• How Coaches Help: Using frameworks like certain thinking models or habit-building techniques, they could help you start with achievable steps, like committing to 10-minute walks, and gradually build momentum.

5. Growth Facilitation - The profession of coaching helps turn awareness into actionable change.  We provide support during uncomfortable realizations.  We guide you through resistance to change and offer strategies to maintain new awareness and habits.  The key benefit is that while friends or family might also notice our blind spots, they often either: - don't know how to communicate them effectively, have their own emotional investment in our current patterns, lack the professional tools to help us address them, and may enable our blind spots to maintain relationship harmony.

Coaches excel at helping you turn newfound awareness into meaningful change. While identifying blind spots is important, the real transformation happens when you take action to address them. Coaches offer consistent support, strategies for overcoming resistance, and encouragement to keep moving forward.

• Example of a Blind Spot: You might not realize how much fear of failure is holding you back from launching a business idea you’ve been passionate about for years. A coach can help you confront and reframe this fear, breaking it down into manageable risks.
• How Coaches Help: They might help you develop a phased plan for launching your business while addressing your fear through techniques like visualization, positive affirmations, or exposure therapy to small, calculated risks.

Additional Specific Examples of Blind Spots:

• Time Management: You think you’re busy but don’t realize how much time is spent scrolling social media or engaging in non-essential tasks.
• Communication: You believe you’re a great communicator, but a coach observes that you frequently interrupt others or avoid tough conversations.
• Career Progression: You blame external circumstances for not advancing in your career, but a coach helps you see how a lack of self-promotion or skill development is the real issue.
• Parenting: You may feel you’re doing everything to support your child, but a coach could point out that you might be unintentionally micromanaging and not fostering their independence.

By providing clarity, accountability, and actionable strategies, coaches help individuals not only uncover blind spots but also take transformative steps toward a more fulfilling and successful life.

Because I am a coach, I am passionate about helping people take the blinders off and see see a way that might work better.  I provide an affordable way to look into some of your challenges and blind spots starting with a complimentary consult.  Book a call now and let's have a conversation to see how I can help.