Your Shot of Fearless Culture #342: Error Blindness

Where change agents find their weekly dose of culture insights and exercises, one topic at a time.

Leaders aren’t born clueless. They become clueless as they climb up the ranks.

The higher we rise, the more we fight to always look right. Why?

People stop giving us honest feedback.

The pressure to meet high expectations is so intense that everything is a battle – being right equates to winning.

This struggle leads to what psychologists call "error blindness," where leaders can’t recognize their own mistakes.

Instead of admitting fault, we adopt a "Soldier" mindset – digging in, defending our ideas, and doubling down on bad decisions.

I’ve been there myself as a former CEO. It’s easy – and tempting – to fall into the trap of thinking that being right is a sign of strength.

But there’s another path. A mindset rooted in curiosity, not aggression. You can choose to think like a “Scout.” It’s about exploring new territories and prioritizing learning over winning.

Scouts don’t attach their self-worth to being right or wrong.

Explore this week’s resources and tools to overcome error blindness.