Uncovering Your Blind Spots

Cathie Leimbach • May 31, 2022

How satisfied are you with your life and your impact? What rating would you give yourself on a 10-point scale? If you aren't a 10 right now, how interested are you in growing - in closing or at least narrowing the gap?


For those who wish to close the gap, what are you doing about it? Is your self-discipline strong enough to move you forward toward being a 10 in life and workplace satisfaction? Do you have the willpower to hold yourself accountable to taking the daily steps needed for continual growth? If not, don't be disappointed in yourself.  We all have a limited amount of willpower each day.  An accountability partner or coach can support us to greater heights than we can achieve independently.  What is your willingness to be coached to more fully achieve your potential?


Coach Micheal Burt, author of Everybody Needs a Coach in Life, suggests that to reach our potential in life and work we need to be high achievers in 4 areas: body, mind, heart, and spirit. In which of these areas have you not yet reached your potential? If you have hit a ceiling, yet haven’t reached your potential, it may be time to invest in a coach.  If you wish you could be more, but think you might have reached your potential, a coach can often help you identify your blind spots and unleash opportunities you have never considered.


Let's take a look at realities and thoughts in each of the 4 areas which could be limiting your impact.  Which apply to you?


Body – I’m not happy with my appearance, my strength and energy, or my health.

Mind – I need to expand my knowledge base to get to the next level in life or work.

Heart – I am no longer passionate. I am lukewarm or passive about important relationships in my life and/or about my work.

Spirit – I am just going though the motions of life without any real connection to God or to purpose.


Close your eyes for a moment and dream about the life you would like. What state of body, mind, heart, and spirit would you like to experience every day? Do you have the internal fortitude to close the gap between your current reality and your potential? Be honest with yourself.


You could close the gap a little on your own and live an okay life. Or, you could work with a coach to narrow the gap so you can uncover your blind spots, use more of your potential, and experience a higher level of impact and satisfaction. Which is it going to be? 

If Employees Aren't Growing, Performance Isn't Either

By Cathie Leimbach • June 9, 2026
Most leaders want better performance. They want employees who take ownership, solve problems, adapt to change, and consistently deliver results. Yet Gallup reports that only 31% of employees are engaged at work. That means nearly 7 out of 10 employees are not fully applying their talents, effort, and initiative to their roles. The question leaders should be asking isn't simply: "Why aren't employees performing?" It's: "Are we developing people to perform at their best?" Gallup's latest research suggests many organizations may be falling behind. Nearly 6 in 10 CHROs say employee development is one of the areas where their organization struggles most. At the same time, fewer than half of U.S. employees have participated in training or education to build new skills for their current job. That gap creates risk. As AI, technology, customer expectations, and job responsibilities continue to evolve, employees cannot meet changing expectations with outdated skills. The impact is especially significant among high performers. Gallup found that organizations providing fewer development opportunities are more likely to lose their best people. The good news is that development doesn't require expensive programs or lengthy workshops. It starts with leaders who consistently: • Connect strengths to daily work • Clarify expectations • Provide meaningful feedback • Coach performance • Hold growth-focused conversations  One of the most effective ways leaders can support employee development is through regular 1-on-1 meetings with each direct report. These conversations create opportunities to coach, remove obstacles, align priorities, and discuss growth before problems become bigger issues. For practical ideas, read our resource: 5 Factors in Successful 1-on-1s . Organizations that thrive won't simply expect more from employees. They'll develop people so they can contribute more. Because when employees grow, performance grows with them.

Culture Is Built in Conversations

By Cathie Leimbach • June 2, 2026
Most leaders want stronger culture. Less silo thinking. Better accountability. More ownership. Healthier teamwork. Higher engagement. But culture rarely changes because of posters, slogans, or mission statements. It changes through thousands of conversations leaders have every week. That’s one reason Jim Brown’s book, The Imperfect CEO , stands out. Rather than focusing on leadership image, the book centers on the real work of building trust-centered organizations. Shari Seckler, CEO of PenFinancial Credit Union, wrote:  “This book shows why collaboration and culture aren't soft – they're the backbone of lasting success.” Marc Jeffreys, President of Revision University, described it this way: “Jim Brown’s framework helps leaders foster environments where trust grows, purpose strengthens, and teams move forward together.” In our Conversational Management work, we consistently see that culture is shaped by how leaders handle everyday moments: difficult feedback missed expectations recognition conflict coaching conversations accountability discussions collaborative decision-making Employees usually decide whether they trust leadership based on these interactions far more than company messaging. That’s why books like The Imperfect CEO matter. They remind leaders that organizational health is not built through perfection. It is built through clarity, humility, consistency, and meaningful conversations repeated over time. If you lead people, this book deserves your attention. Order your copy today.