Ah, February. The month of hearts, roses, and proclamations of love. But let’s talk about a different kind of love—one that goes beyond candlelit dinners and chocolates. Let’s talk about *tough love* for your blind spots because love isn’t just about admiration; it’s about growth, too.
Blind spots. We all have them, and ignoring them can hold us back in our relationships, careers, and personal branding. So, let’s dive into how to love yourself—and others—enough to address those blind spots head-on but with kindness.
The Kindness in Pointing Out Blind Spots
February 17 is Random Act of Kindness Day. Sure, buying someone coffee or holding the door open is wonderful, but have you ever considered that helping someone see a blind spot can be one of the kindest acts of all?
The key is how you do it. Being honest isn’t a free pass to be mean. Here’s the secret: honesty + empathy = kindness. Here’s another tip: Replace the word “but” in feedback with the word “and.” It changes a sentence completely by not negating everything you said in the first half of your sentence. Like this:
Instead of saying, “You’re terrible at presenting. No one wants to listen to you.”
Try: “I’ve noticed you’re passionate about your ideas; but and sometimes they get lost in the delivery. I’d love to help you work on presentation skills.”
Pointing out blind spots kindly means showing you genuinely want the other person to succeed. It’s love in action.
Seek Out Your Own Blind Spots
True growth happens when you’re willing to look in the mirror—not just at what’s working, but at what’s not. Ask for feedback from people you trust, even if it’s uncomfortable.
Questions like:
– “What’s one thing you think I could do better in my role?”
– “How do you think I come across to new clients or colleagues?”
Feedback is a gift, even if it’s wrapped in an awkward bow.
Personal Branding Blind Spots
Your personal brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room. But here’s the kicker: you can’t control your brand if you’re unaware of how others perceive you.
Blind spots in your personal brand could be things like:
– Coming off as disorganized when you pride yourself on being hyper organized and focused.
– Being seen as critical when you think you’re just offering helpful advice.
How do you fix this? Solicit feedback and adjust. Your brand isn’t what you say it is; it’s what others experience.
Don’t Be an Anti-Mentor
We’ve all met that person—the one who claims to be helping you but is really tearing you down. Let’s be clear: there’s a big difference between helping someone grow and being a bully.
An anti-mentor says things like:
“You’ll never succeed in this industry unless you change everything about yourself.”
A true mentor says:
“You’ve got a ton of potential. Here’s one area I think you can refine to get to the next level.”
If you’re in a position to guide others, remember that being direct is good. Being destructive is not.
Love Yourself Enough to Grow
This February, let’s reframe love. Love is holding yourself accountable. Love is accepting feedback. Love is helping others see their potential without tearing them down.
So, take a moment to seek out your blind spots, embrace feedback, and show kindness to others by gently pointing out theirs. Love might be blind, but that doesn’t mean you have to be.
Because, when we can see clearly—ourselves and others—that’s when the real growth begins.