Page 54 - Fearless Leadership

The Blind Spots That Derail Leaders 41

Symptoms of Being Insensitive to Your Impact on Others

• Not noticing, seeking out, or caring what others experience
or feel
• Expecting others to respond the same way you do, regardless
of cultural differences
• Not recognizing how your comments and behaviors provoke
a negative response
• Criticizing, devaluing input, and questioning the credibility
of others
• Minimizing others’ reactions to your behavior such as “They’ll
get over it”

Synthia, a senior vice president of mergers and acquisitions, belittled
and micromanaged others. Her coworkers were accustomed to the disap-
proval she showed in her face and tone of voice. Nothing was ever good
enough for Synthia, and she constantly edited the memos and reports of
others. Memos were not circulated until Synthia edited them to her per-
fection. “It’s Synthia’s way and only Synthia’s way—which includes intim-
idation and manipulation,” said a member of her management team.
People felt stupid and incompetent around Synthia. They also felt that
she did not trust them to do their jobs. Everybody lost something in this
debacle. Many people lost confidence, others lost their jobs because of
Synthia’s dissatisfaction with their work, and many left the company.
Turnover soared in her area, and Synthia, insensitive again, simply said,
“Poor performers don’t last long with me.”
Synthia was perpetually dissatisfied, and people were resigned that no mat-
ter what they did, they could never please her. She always focused on what
people were doing wrong and seldom acknowledged what they were doing
right. Her lack of sensitivity to how her behavior impacted others was the cause
of significant business and leadership issues. No matter what she attempted
to change in the organization, she was unsuccessful. The environment she
had created was not conducive to change, and nothing took hold.

The Impact of Being Insensitive to Others. When you are insensitive
to others, people avoid you and withdraw their trust. At best, they merely