Buffoon Busting - Eliminating Leadership Blind Spots

Episode notes

Northbound Community and Courses. Have you ever had a boss who was… kind of a buffoon? Not evil, not stupid—just unaware of how they land. In this episode of the Northbound Podcast, Chris breaks down why leadership usually fails: not because of bad intentions, but because self-awareness is missing. You'll learn how blind spots hide behind confidence, how power quietly shuts down honesty, and how "that's just how they are" becomes a culture that protects the wrong things. Chris introduces the idea of "buffoon busting"—practical leadership work focused on identifying blind spots, auditing your language, building feedback loops, and creating a culture where clarity replaces chaos. This isn't about shaming leaders. It's about removing what's in the way so you can lead boldly, humbly, and with real credibility. Main Points What "buffoon" really means Not malicious, not stupid—often confident and well-intentioned. The problem is impact without awareness (power used casually, language used carelessly). "I didn't mean it that way" doesn't erase harm. How blind spots form Blind spots don't announce themselves—they often look like confidence.