In short
Leadership blindspots and improving leadership through self-awareness rather than trying to change others. The host argues the most controllable lever in business is one’s own behavior, using a six-area self-awareness model arranged in concentric circles: outer areas are behavior and identity; inner areas are more hardwired; the core “engine” drives the other five.
Key claims
self-awareness is the most available and effective leadership tool; improvement comes from “little tweaks,” not transformation.
Notable examples
identifying blind spots in how a leader shows up, then adjusting behavior/identity based on what’s driving them.
Guests
not specified in the provided transcript.
Written by AI. May contain mistakes. Listen to the episode to check what was said.
Chapters
Tap a time to open that second in VOUnderstanding Leadership Control
0:00 to 0:20
Learn about the aspects of leadership that are within your control.
“Being in business, there are so many things that are out of our control.”
The Self-Awareness Model
0:20 to 0:59
Discover the self-awareness model and its six key areas for leaders.
“What I came up with is this self-awareness model where there are six areas.”
Transcript
Automatic transcript. May contain errors.0:00Being in business, there are so many things that are out of our control. All the things that are going on in the world, in our own business, in the people that are around us. The one thing that we have the most ability to be strategic and deliberate about is our own behavior. The single most available and effective tool to improve your leadership is to become more self-aware and work on yourself.
0:20Martin Dubin:What I came up with is this self-awareness model where there are six areas. If you think about it visually, there are three concentric circles. We start on the outside. It's most accessible to our awareness. There are two areas there, our behavior and our identity. And then at the next level inside are the three areas that are a lot more hardwired. And then the final one is kind of at the core center. And that's what's driving us. And that's the engine that really is pushing all these other five areas. What are those key blind spots? What are those key areas where a leader is really missing how they can show up more effectively.
0:55And we're not talking about transforming somebody. This is about little tweaks.
From the publisher
Identify Your Leadership Blindspots
7 Aug 2025
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In this HBR Executive Masterclass, author and leadership psychologist Martin Dubin reveals why even seasoned executives misread themselves—and how to turn those blindspots into strengths.
Learn more at https://s.hbr.org/4kbybkB
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