Is your expertise clouding your judgment?
Expertise should be your greatest strength—but it can also become your biggest blind spot.
In Blindspotting, I explore the curse of expertise—a thinking trap that even the most brilliant leaders fall into. When we’ve spent years mastering a subject, our confidence grows. But so does our tendency to stop questioning ourselves. The more we know, the harder it becomes to see what we don’t know.
Experts often stop asking “Is there a better way?” and start assuming “I already know the answer.” Over time, this certainty leads to missed opportunities, poor decisions, and resistance to change. Think of Blockbuster ignoring Netflix, or leaders who cling to outdated systems because they “know they work.”
Blindspotting helps us counteract this trap. It teaches us to acknowledge our intellectual limits, stay open to learning, and create space for other perspectives. Because true expertise isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about knowing when to stay curious.
If you’re the go-to person in your field, fantastic. But don’t let that status stop you from asking: “What might I be missing?”
Three actions for the week:
Ask someone junior or outside your team for their view on a decision.
Catch yourself when you default to “I know this”—and pause to double-check.
Read or listen to something that challenges your expertise.
🟨 LINKS TO PRE-ORDER - all the links to pre-order Blindspotting, available from 3 June in hard copy, e-book and audio book - https://www.kirstinferguson.com/books/
🟦 FREE PERSONALISED REPORT - Take the Blindspotting Leader Self-Assessment Tool for your free report comparing your results to other leaders - visit www.blindspotting.com.au