Self-awareness is one of the most powerful elements to drive human development. We gain new perspectives and knowledge to address blind spotsthat hold us back from being our best selves. 

Self-awareness also helps leaders grow accountability; it helps point the way forward to the behaviors that they desire in becoming more productive, engaging and emotionally intelligent.

But first, back to those blind spots. I've seen many of them – behaviors and thoughts that eventually damage relationships in the workplace. Here are four thinking patterns to be aware of, as you address your own blind spots and grow as a leader. 

1. Black-and-white thinking

They see things in black and white and blow things out of proportion. The glass for this person is usually half empty as they dwell heavily on the worst possible outcome.

They "should" on others, placing expectations of how their colleagues "should" be, thereby limiting their ability to accept others how they are, leading to negativity and the tendency to criticize.

2. My way or the highway thinking

Do you work with or for someone unable to budge or view things differently? They are work colleagues or managers who will want things their way without consulting with the rest of the team. They have narrow-minded expectations that cloud a sense of reality and sabotage work processes.

This is a colleague or manager having a need to have things the way they "should be". They find it difficult to have the patience and tolerance for differences that don't fit their ideal needs and expectations.

They can also become very obsessed about plowing ahead relentlessly about something that is out of their control. If you're around such an individual, take note: They can wreak havoc in the workplace and destroy morale. 

3. Judgmental thinking

What a judgmental attitude will do is alienate colleagues at work. The best solution for these people, if they're open to shifting with self-awareness, is to stop jumping to conclusions before hearing all the facts and start listening intently to improve their communication skills. If this is you, remember this: When we judge, we invite judgment upon ourselves.

4. Perfectionistic thinking

One pattern that stands out and consistently holds people back is perfectionism. Have you seen it? Hopefully not. Perfectionism will silently poison a team and stifle collaboration. It shows up in self-defeating thought patterns and actions that typically derail productivity and morale.

One tendency of a perfectionist is criticism. So, if you feel judged and rejected, remember that it's not about you; you're probably working with a perfectionist. They are highly discriminating and tend to reject in others what they can't accept in themselves.

They also don't handle criticism and feedback well. This comes from having an unhealthy attachment to others' opinions. They feel that if their flaws are exposed, others will reject them.

I'll leave you with a question. Which aspects from the illustrations above may be the hardest to deal with when faced with a manager or colleague lacking self-awareness? 

Inc