Blindspotting: Preventing Hidden Sabotage at Work

In this episode of Daily Creative, we dive into the hidden forces that can derail even the most talented and well-intentioned leaders: blind spots. We explore why self-awareness isn’t just about knowing our weaknesses, but also understanding how our biggest strengths—if left unchecked—can turn into liabilities.

We’re joined by Marty Dubin, executive coach, former CEO, clinical psychologist, and author of the new book Blindspotting. Marty shares his framework for uncovering blind spots across six key areas: motives, traits, emotion, intellect, behavior, and identity. Together, we discuss how habits and internal narratives can get stuck even as our roles evolve, and the vital importance of inviting honest feedback from those around us before it’s too late.

We cover:

• Why our “super strengths” can turn into career roadblocks
• The difference between our self-perception and reality
• Practical ways to spot and address blind spots as leaders
• How to evolve our identity alongside our changing responsibilities
• Creating a culture of feedback and vulnerability within teams

Five Key Learnings:

1. Blind spots often stem not from our weaknesses, but from our overused strengths—like confidence becoming arrogance, or high standards turning into micromanagement.
2. Marty Dubin’s six blind spot categories—motives, traits, emotion, intellect, behavior, and identity—offer a holistic way to self-reflect and adjust as our careers evolve.
3. Our identity can easily lag behind our roles, causing frustration, stagnation, or even unintentional sabotage if we don’t let go of outdated self-concepts.
4. Emotional reactions, especially those that surprise us, are powerful signals of possible blind spots tied to hidden motives or identity mismatches.
5. Building a culture where others can “speak truth” to us—inviting honest feedback before problems arise—is essential for growth and effective leadership.

Get full interviews and bonus content for free! Just join the list at DailyCreativePlus.com.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Brave Habit is available now

My new book will help you make bravery a habit in your life, your leadership, and your work. Discover how to develop the two qualities that lead to brave action: Optimistic Vision and Agency. Buy The Brave Habit wherever books are sold, or learn more at TheBraveHabit.com.

To listen to the full interviews from today's episode, as well as receive bonus content and deep dive insights from the episode, visit DailyCreativePlus.com and join Daily Creative+.