Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can't See [Hardcover]

Claudia Shelton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 23, 2007

Praise for Blind Spots

"Shelton's open and candid style inspires trust among readers. Management teams and those making career choices can push their effectiveness up a notch with her skilled approach to facing blind spots and moving beyond them."
—Rick McNutt, Executive Vice President, National City Bank

"Blind Spots gives individuals a comprehensive, but very manageable, set of tools and strategies to see themselves differently. The stories of people whose lives have been changed by Shelton's principles and techniques enhance the strategies she presents. This is a compelling book with the power to improve lives dramatically."
—Eleta A. Jones, PhD, LPC, Assistant Director, Center for Professional Development, University of Hartford

"Shelton's approach to identifying blind spots goes to the heart of effective leadership. Such interest arose from this work that requests poured in for not only follow-on training regarding Blind Spots, but also for developmental coaching. Six months later, people are still talking about Blind Spots."
—Jack Bergquist, Vice President, Kaman Aerospace

"When I recognized my blind spots that made me underestimate my entrepreneurial strengths, I was able to move forward to launch a successful company. This book is a must for building resilience to face the challenges of a start-up."
—Marilyn Nemarich, entrepreneur and owner, Marilyn's Pies

"This book can teach you how to see inside yourself. As I was reading it, I kept thinking of the song On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. Learning about your blind spots leads to clear sight, which can create possibilities for innovation and growth."
—Jane Hunt, Assistant Vice President for Executive Development, The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Blind Spots motivates us to think differently, to push our skills to the next level and openly see and manage our Blind Spots. Claudia Shelton helps us to develop Clear Sight of where we want to go and how to get there. There is a clear difference in my performance level and the increased value I am bringing to the company."—Clare Hartman, VP, Pitney Bowes.

From the Inside Flap

Do you know why you're not getting a promotion, taking on new leadership roles, managing a team with top-notch effectiveness, or reaching your full potential in the workplace and in your personal relationships?

Maybe it's what you don't see about yourself that's holding you back.

Now, executive coach Claudia Shelton reveals how her revolutionary approach to personal development can help you recognize your personal blind spots—and then take immediate action that will lead to unprecedented personal achievement. Blind Spots is a proven and realistic approach to professional development that offers a step-based system for gaining a new and clearer perspective on who you are and how you can achieve more.

Shelton sees blind spots not as faults or weaknesses, but as doors to possibilities that you couldn't previously imagine for yourself. With this positive outlook, you'll be able to easily modify your attitudes, habits, and behaviors to create new personal strengths. Blind Spots provides the tools you need to build a positive mindset and learn what it is you haven't been able to see about yourself. Once you have that perspective and start working to fulfill your ultimate potential, unlimited success will be right around the corner.

Shelton offers a complete system for identifying and adjusting personal behaviors and habits that hold you back. You'll learn the five most common blind spots, the five principles that open your thinking to new ways of doing things, and specific strategies that help you implement effective action. And you'll discover simple steps you can take to improve your performance—and your life—immediately.

No matter what you want to achieve in life, this one-of-a-kind guide will help you tear down the walls between you and what it is you want—whether that's a promotion, a new business, optimum performance, greater recognition, more social impact, a more balanced personal life, enhanced personal relationships, or any other goal.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley (March 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470042257
• ISBN-13: 978-0470042250
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #652,546 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Ophthalmology of Increased Self-Awareness, May 1, 2007

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can't See (Hardcover)

As Claudia Shelton explains in the Preface, the material in her book is organized around "three simple focuses": guidance to the development of the perspective and mindset necessary to "see things about yourself that you previously couldn't see" (i.e. blind spots), strategies to help convert these blind spots into strengths on which to build success, and provision of a set of tools "to help identify personal information about one's specific blind spots." I appreciate Shelton's skillful use of several reader-friendly devices such as the statement of a key concept for each of the chapters which comprise one of the six Sections. For example, for Section Four, these are "The Strategies for Clear Sight":

Chapter 11: Identify what you do best in a "Statement of Strengths"
Chapter 12: Check counter-productive habits using an "Old Habits Blind Spots Grid"
Chapter 13: Convert stress into a positive source of energy
Chapter 14: "Tune your radar" to recognize non-verbal "clues" sent to others
Chapter 15: "Connect" more effectively with others to strengthen relationships

As these strategies correctly indicate, Shelton offers no head-snapping revelations (nor does she claims to offer any); in these and other chapters, she identifies the "what" and then devotes most of her attention to the "why" and "how." For that reason, she thoughtfully extensive material that can guide and inform a series of self-audits to help each reader determine the nature and extent of the gap between her or his current level or recognition and what is desired. In Chapter 15, for example, Shelton identifies and briefly discusses five of the most common causes of disconnection that include disengagement. That is, "not speaking clearly, not listening to what others have to say, [and] not providing useful feedback," any/all of which can prevent a convincing presentation of ideas. To paraphrase The Golden Rule, "Others will do unto you the way you tend to do unto them."

Many readers will be especially grateful for the Appendix that Shelton provides. In it, she offers brief descriptions of all recommended "tools"(with a handy page reference for each), a brief review of the five most common blind spots, and summary descriptions of nine models that comprise the "Blind Spots Profile." The ultimate objective is to develop the strengths while reducing (if not eliminating) the weaknesses of each, such as what Shelton rather clumsily characterizes as the "Optimistic Image-Oriented Producer" who tends to rend feelings first, is extroverted, is a high-energy multi-tasker who produces many projects valued by others but who can sometimes be disorganized and indecisive and, when under pressure, become distant (i.e. "disengaged") and thereby alienate others.

Make no mistake about it: What Shelton recommends in her book requires a full commitment of time, energy, and attention over an extended period of time, although those who carefully absorb and digest the material and then begin to identify their blind spots will immediately increase their understanding of themselves and probably of others, also. It is important to keep in mind that some blind spots are easier to recognize than others. Also, that certain revelations about one's self (i.e. one's inadequacies and their consequences, to date) will probably not be pleasant but are nonetheless especially important. Be grateful for having eliminated, finally, what have probably been the worst blind spots.

Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to check out Lynda Gratton Hot Spots: Why Some Teams, Workplaces, and Organizations Buzz with Energy - And Others Don't, Michael Useem `s The Go Point: When It's Time to Decide--Knowing What to Do and When to Do It by, Howard Gardner `s Five Minds for the Future, and Tom Rath's StrengthsFinder 2.0: A New and Upgraded Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars We Can Achieve Our Goals, March 18, 2007

By 

Margaret H. Tilney - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can't See (Hardcover)

Although Claudia Shelton's new book, Blind Spots, was inspired by her work as an Executive Coach in many Fortune 500 companies, all those who are interested in both personal and professional success should make this a must read. The book's premise is that through overuse and old patters of behavior our strengths become our weaknesses. When we realize these Blind Spots, define and understand them, we can become objective about who we need to be to make our innate talents work for us at all times. Shelton clearly defines the nine Blind Spots Profiles, how each profile can have Clear Sight in an easy to understand manner. The other remarkable dividend is once an individual understands how to turn personal weaknesses into strengths, he/she can apply the Blind Spots methodology to others, whether a boss, co-worker, or significant other to gain Clear Sight about who they are and how they communicate; this objective assessment will lead to signifcant, honest communication which will allow all to realize their full potential.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Guide for Career Success, March 26, 2007

By 

Jan Benvenuti (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blind Spots: Achieve Success by Seeing What You Can't See (Hardcover)

Are you looking for the one book to help you manage your career? This is it. Well-researched, easy to read, immediately useful to self-diagnose obstacles to career success, BlindSpots should be required reading for anyone leading or aspiring to lead an organization. Claudia Shelton uses her expertise as an executive coach to quickly help the reader identify personal strengths that can hamper success. Using a five-part framework and individual stories of successful people going awry, she then works through five principles of clear sight - ways to turn those blind spots into strengths. Insightfully written, with on-line tools available [...]