# Episode 289: The Blind Spots Holding Leaders Back

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episode-289-the-blind-spots-holding-leaders-back
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episode-289-the-blind-spots-holding-leaders-back.md
Podcast: [Leaning into Leadership](https://stenobird.com/podcast/leaning-into-leadership-4658926)
Published: 2026-07-22T11:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://leaning-into-leadership.captivate.fm/episode/episode-289-the-blind-spots-holding-leaders-back
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/a389d072-2de8-411b-8a8e-bd4f2ebe25f2.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/leaning-into-leadership-4658926/episodes/episode-289-the-blind-spots-holding-leaders-back
Duration seconds: 761

## Resource

Leadership growth isn't always about discovering a new strategy. More often, it's about becoming aware of something that has been true all along. In this solo episode, Dr. Darrin Peppard shares two defining leadership stories that changed the way he thinks about coaching, feedback, and personal growth. From a simple conversation with a superintendent that forever changed his communication style to a coaching experience that revealed the hidden system keeping a leader overwhelmed, this episode explores one powerful truth: Awareness changes everything. You'll discover why every leader has blind spots, why your team may see things you cannot, and why trusted coaches, mentors, and colleagues are so essential to continued growth. If you're committed to becoming a more intentional leader, this conversation will challenge you to stop asking, "How am I doing?" and start asking, "What am I not seeing?" In This Episode Why one sentence from a superintendent transformed Darrin's leadership The difference between our intentions and the experience others have with us Why leadership breakthroughs come from awareness—not simply learning more The coaching conversation that revealed the real source of one leader's overwhelm How organizational systems become invisible over time Why every leader has blind spots The difficult truth about feedback and positional leadership Why coaches don't exist to fix leaders—they help leaders see How servant leadership can unintentionally become a bottleneck The one question every leader should ask someone they trust Memorable Quotes "Learning adds information. Awareness changes perspective. Perspective changes behavior." "Your staff knows what your blind spots are, but they may not feel it is okay to point them out." "Leadership isn't about becoming pe…

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## Transcript

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