Do you know when to be certain—and when to stay open to new ideas?
There’s a powerful insight at the heart of Blindspotting: great leaders shift between knowing and seeking.
Being a Seeker means staying open, curious, and willing to learn. Being a Knower means acting with clarity and conviction. The art of blindspotting is knowing when to be which.
In a crisis, certainty matters. People need clarity. Action is required. This is where the Knower mindset shines. But most of leadership isn’t crisis—it’s complexity. And complexity demands exploration, not certainty.
The mistake many leaders make? They default to the Knower mindset—even when the moment calls for listening, flexibility, and thoughtful dialogue. When we act like Knowers in the wrong context, we risk shutting down new ideas, eroding trust, and reinforcing blind spots.
The Seeker mindset isn’t weak. It’s disciplined. It asks: What’s the truth here? What don’t I know yet? What perspective am I missing?
As you move through your week, ask yourself: Am I acting out of habit, or am I choosing the mindset this moment really needs?
Three actions for the week:
Before giving advice, ask one more question instead.
In your next team meeting, say: “I’m here to listen first.”
Notice a moment when you jumped to certainty. Could curiosity have served better?
And you guys are amazing! Blindspotting was only announced last week and Booktopia already has it at the top of the Business & Finance bestseller list. Thank you so much for trusting me to write something you want to read. I honestly can’t wait to get it into your hot little hands. If you haven’t already pre-ordered your copy, you will find all the links below.
🟨 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