Superman has been back in our collective consciousness this summer thanks to a new movie release. And as I found myself pondering “Supes,” I couldn’t help but think about his one big weakness: Kryptonite.
Here’s the thing, there isn’t just one kind of Kryptonite. There are many, each with its own peculiar (and often devastating) effect:
- Green Kryptonite: The classic. Deadly to Kryptonians.
- Red Kryptonite: Wildly unpredictable—weakens Kryptonians and causes bizarre physical mutations.
- Blue Kryptonite: The antidote to red for Kryptonians, but poisonous to the Bizarro clan.
- Gold Kryptonite: Strips Kryptonians of their ability to absorb yellow sunlight, essentially making them . . . well, human.
- Silver Kryptonite: Think “psychotic hangry”—intense hunger, paranoia, and delusions all rolled into one.
- Black Kryptonite: Splits one Kryptonian into two separate beings—usually one angelic, one downright villainous.
Just as “The Man of Steel” has Kryptonite as his nemesis, each of us has weaknesses—often more than one. And, just as Kryptonite can masquerade in different colors and effects, our personal weaknesses can look a lot like strengths when taken too far.
While reflecting on my own “emotional Kryptonite,” I picked up a new release: Blindspotting: How to See What’s Holding You Back as a Leader by Dr. Martin Dubin. Unlike most books I buy (which pile up as research references), I devoured this one cover-to-cover. It’s that good.
Dubin explores what he calls blindspots—“what we don’t know about ourselves that hold us back as leaders and prevent us from achieving our highest success.” He describes them as the particulars of who we are: our behaviors, emotions, intellect, inborn traits, core motives, and identities.
We work with leaders every day who want to uncover those blindspots and harness their strengths in more intentional ways. Here are the six Dubin highlights:
The six leadership blindspots
Behavioral blindspots
Our behaviors are the “output” of the other blindspots—the way others experience us. Shifting behavior can make a huge difference. Dubin highlights three commonly overlooked leadership behaviors: communication, influence, and prioritization.
Emotional blindspots
Many leaders still believe showing emotion is weakness. Dubin flips that idea on its head: emotions are data. Leaders who become emotionally aware (a.k.a. emotionally intelligent) tap into an incredibly rich source of insight and influence.
Intellectual blindspots
Ever try to be the smartest person in the room? Dubin warns that relying solely on intellect is one of the most common blindspots. Intelligence is attractive, but when it’s your only tool, it quickly becomes your Kryptonite.
Inborn trait blindspots
Our personalities are wired from birth—introvert or extrovert, risk-taker or risk-averse, flexible or rigid. Anyone with siblings knows how wildly different natural traits can be. Ignoring or overemphasizing these traits can trip us up.
Motive blindspots
At the core of Dubin’s model sits motive: our deepest drivers, the “why” behind everything we do. In the credit union world, we talk often about “finding your why.” But here’s the catch—motive blindspots are the hardest to change.
Identity blindspots
Identity is the name tag you wear in the world, the persona you project. Along with behaviors, it’s one of the easiest blindspots for others to see—and for us to tweak. Small shifts in identity can lead to powerful changes.
So, what’s your Kryptonite?
Blindspots often masquerade as strengths—just ones that have been overused or misapplied. A strength, pushed too far, becomes a weakness. In other words, your greatest asset can quickly morph into your personal Kryptonite.
One of my greatest joys as a coach is helping leaders uncover both their strengths and their blindspots—so they can stop unknowingly tripping over their own Kryptonite and start leading with full power.
If you’re ready to dig into your blindspots (and maybe unearth a superpower or two), we're is here to help. Reach out at tracie@zealyst.com—let’s find out what’s really holding you back.
