Blinding Biases

"Where can we improve?"

My CEO client asked me this over a recent 1:1 dinner of seafood and beers.

It wasn't a loaded question.

He genuinely wants his company to improve.

I paused and expressed my admiration for his practice of asking great questions.

His response: "My biases blind me, and so I need advisors who can help me see the truth."

Wise words.

Where in your business do you need to see the truth?

Where are you not asking the right questions?

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did this CEO's question "where can we improve?" stand out as genuinely admirable?

Because it wasn't a loaded or rhetorical question, it reflected a real, open desire to hear honest feedback rather than confirmation of what he already believed about the business.

What did the CEO mean by saying his "biases blind me"?

That personal blind spots naturally limit self-awareness, no matter how experienced or thoughtful a leader is. Recognizing that limitation is what led him to actively seek outside perspective rather than relying solely on his own view.

Why does needing advisors to "help see the truth" reflect wisdom rather than weakness?

Because acknowledging the limits of one's own perspective is a sign of genuine self-awareness, not a lack of confidence. Seeking outside truth-telling is a deliberate strategy for overcoming blind spots that can't be seen from the inside.

Why does asking great questions matter as much as having great answers?

Because the right question is often what surfaces truths that would otherwise stay hidden behind personal bias. Great questions open the door to insight that wouldn't emerge without deliberately inviting honest feedback.

What's the practical reflection worth sitting with from this exchange?

Where in the business real truth might currently be obscured by personal bias, and where the right questions simply aren't being asked yet to surface that truth.