None of us are born as perfect leaders – rather we develop our skills through education and experience. Growth occurs when we are made aware of the aspects of ourselves that need improvement and we can begin to take steps to remedy them. The key there is awareness, and there are often a number of detrimental routines and habits that we fall into which we don’t realize we’re doing.

These are our blinds spots – weaknesses we don’t know about and therefore can’t improve – and they hold us back from not only personal growth but also professional success and fulfillment. We might just be getting in our own way without even realizing it.

Here are 20 common blind spots that may be holding you back:

Conflict Avoidance
Have you ever delayed having a difficult conversation because you were dreading it? Most of us have probably done this to some extent. While it may be acceptable in certain personal situations, it becomes a real problem in the workplace when there is something that needs to be said or changed. As a leader, if we either do not realize we are avoiding conflicts or we purposely continue to avoid them, we will not be able to give honest feedback, steer and mentor others in their own growth, and protect the business’s goals and resources.

A Need to Be Right
A little stubbornness is necessary when building a business and forging this new path, but there is a healthy limit. Grasping to the idea that you are always right or that you constantly need to prove yourself as being correct is the unhealthy peak of being stubborn. This is likely an attempt to gain credibility or make a stand for what you believe but will usually backfire. Instead, having an open mind and the humility to properly assess all available information, even if it disagrees with your assertion, will be the key to breaking through this blind spot.

Afraid to Ask for Help
The whole idea surrounding entrepreneurship is often summed up as ‘going off on your own’ to start a business. The secret is that successful entrepreneurs do not do it alone – they communicate, collaborate, learn from each other, and most importantly – ask for help when and where they need it. Going it alone will only get you so far – learn to seek help and guidance along the way.

Lack of Commitment
Any entrepreneurial pursuit necessitates a strong level of commitment to get you through the most difficult challenges this journey brings. Being clear on what it is you are trying to accomplish, and also why you wish to do it, will bolster your dedication to your mission. Take a stand on what you set out to achieve and allow it to propel you forward.

Poor Listening Skills
Some of us seem to be great listeners naturally while others never truly listen to what other people say. Being a good listener requires more than simply hearing the words that are being spoken – it is an active role involving paying close attention, practicing empathy, asking questions, and engaging in the conversation. It is also crucial to keep an open mind when listening so that you can understand someone’s comments from their point of view instead of focusing on always being prepared to counter their statements with a disagreement.

Refusing Responsibility
It can be difficult to admit when we are wrong, but it is a necessary part of taking ownership of our mistakes and learning from them. Mistakes and issues do not simply disappear when we try to blame them on someone else, cite the circumstances as the cause, play the victim, or refuse to take responsibility. The only way to remedy the situation and move on is to first recognize our role in it and then find a way forward from there.

Micromanaging
As a leader you are the visionary – the big picture thinker and goal-setter. The tendency to micromanage can creep in at any time and steal away your focus from what really matters in your position – strategic thinking and vision. Resist the urge to zoom in on each individual detail and instead learn to delegate these responsibilities down the chain, and most importantly to trust in your team’s ability to accomplish them.

Limited Perception Awareness
We are taught to not care what other people think of us, though in reality it is often important to at least be aware of this. Being mindful of how your behaviors and actions are perceived by others gives you the opportunity to then redefine how you ‘show up,’ which can lead you to develop better connections, communicate more clearly, enable people to feel more comfortable around you, and build your reputation in a positive light.

Neglecting Tact
Related to the point above, many leaders find themselves neglecting tact and opting for a position of ‘honesty hurts’ instead. Honesty is crucial, yes, but being blunt to the point of causing harm is counterproductive for everyone involved. Instead, try taking a more friendly approach to giving feedback or correcting mistakes as a way to motivate someone to improve rather than crushing their self-esteem.

Wasting Other People’s Time
A quick way to destroy someone’s respect and loyalty is by wasting their time. Keeping someone waiting around for you sends a message that you are doing something more important – that you do not value this person, their time, or your commitment to them. Give the right impression by honoring the commitments you set and being punctual.

Having a Personal Agenda
There is a delicate balance between fostering professional relationships and becoming too personally invested in them. More than the cliche office fling, various forms of interpersonal drama can easily break trust in a leader’s confidence and derail a team’s effectiveness. Examples of personal agendas can include seeking revenge, conspiring against a certain person, mocking or bullying someone (even if it seems ‘harmless’), inappropriate romantic relationships, attempting to sabotage someone else’s efforts in order to make yourself look better (such as for a promotion), and the list goes on. Bottom line: don’t do it.

Not Expressing Appreciation
Gone are the days when cold, frightening bosses tell us when to do and we are required to obey – these days we expect our leaders to be empathetic and vulnerable – and a necessary way to demonstrate this is by showing appreciation for what others do and say. When someone feels appreciated at work they are not only happier but also more productive, a better team player, more loyal to the company, and have a greater sense of fulfillment. On the other end, expressing appreciation helps us as the leaders recognize our own gratitude for the work of our teams, which in turn increases our fulfillment and productivity as well.

Paraphrasing the Past
In the beginning of the journey there will be plenty of learning and experimentation to find what works, but as time goes on we can tend to get stuck in a ritual of always doing things the same way. If you find yourself saying things like, ‘that’s the way we’ve always done it,’ chances are you have fallen into this trap of overvaluing how you’ve done things in the past and you’ve neglected to reassess your methods. Regularly evaluating and improving your operations can keep you from simply relying on tradition for tradition’s sake.

Withholding Emotional Commitment
Deciding on a course of action with your logical mind and committing to it with your heart and soul are two very different things. When we withhold our emotional commitment it tends to be because we are not passionate about the idea but decide to ‘go along with it’ anyway. This can manifest as a ‘wait and see’ expectation, belief that it won’t make a difference, or lack of follow through. When you notice this it is best to check in with yourself and reevaluate whether this is the best path for you to take.

Having Low Standards
While perfection will never be achievable it is still vital to keep high standards for your business’s performance. Creating a habit of tolerating work that is ‘good enough’ just to get it done will foster a company culture that lacks attention to detail, commitment, loyalty, and any sense of accomplishment or fulfillment. It may seem like this approach saves time and effort, but it will create many more issues down the road.

Not Seeking Counsel
Relying solely on our own opinions can only get us so far – it is a limited pool of knowledge and perspective. If we continually neglect to seek advice and information from others we may not be able to spot our mistakes and correct them, refine and optimize our tactics, or expand in new ways. We need multiple perspectives in order to thrive, both as businesses and as leaders.

Inability to Plan Strategically
Setting exciting goals is one thing, but figuring out how to accomplish them is a whole different challenge. A leader must be able to visualize both the finish line and the road to get there in order to delegate, guide, and make important decisions. A lack of strategic vision will hinder the team’s ability to follow the necessary steps to reach their target.

Relying on Assumptions
Solid decision making requires being well informed with any available facts, data, analyses, feedback, and other reliable sources. There are plenty of times however when decisions are instead made based on assumptions rather than reality – this is a dangerous and misguided practice that is usually not intentional. Always be aware of what is influencing your decision making to ensure that you are not simply relying on assumptions.

Ignoring Feedback
Feedback is one of the most beneficial things that comes from working with others – it’s the answers to questions we don’t even know to ask. At times feedback feels unwelcome and rude, perhaps due to how it is delivered, but there is typically something to be learned from it nonetheless. As you grow into your leadership role, practice developing the skill of listening to and accepting feedback without taking it personally.

Not Being Honest
If you’ve gone through this entire list and have not found a single blind spot that you can relate to, chances are you’re just not being honest with yourself. Honesty is crucial, though sometimes it can be uncomfortable and we may end up reverting to conflict avoidance (point 1 above) instead of facing reality. This will especially be an issue for those who struggle with their own self-awareness, and in those cases practicing reflective and mindfulness exercises can help develop a greater level of honesty within yourself. And of course – honesty toward others is equally important – but be sure to read the point above about tact, because being rude and blunt is not necessary when being honest.

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