Gifted, Favored… and Behaviorally Unaware

As a Behavior Strength Coach, I’m trained to listen beneath words and observe beneath actions. Every story, whether in leadership or relationships, raises one core question for me: What behavior is shaping the outcome?

That lens follows me into my quiet time.

And unapologetically so, I am a God-lover and a believer.

While revisiting the story of Joseph, one leadership issue stood out: blind spots.

A blind spot isn’t ignorance. It’s the inability to see what others clearly experience about us. Joseph was gifted and favored.

Yet early in his journey, his behavior revealed a lack of emotional intelligence.

He knew he was preferred and failed to manage its impact.

He shared a dream that placed his brothers beneath him without discernment.

He noticed their discomfort… and shared another dream anyway.

This wasn’t courage or confidence. It was a blind spot. And blind spots are costly.

Left unchecked, they erode trust, breed resentment, and fracture relationships long before we realize what’s happening.

Joseph’s brothers didn’t simply reject him; they reacted to a pattern of unaddressed behavior.

His fall into slavery wasn’t just about jealousy; it was about relational breakdown (even as God orchestrated the larger purpose). We see how that Joseph was gifted, the favored but behaviorally unaware.

What’s striking is this: Joseph’s elevation required behavioral growth, not just divine intervention. Later, in prison, we see a transformed man.

Joseph notices the emotional state of others.

He asks questions.

He shows concern.

That moment of empathy opens the door to influence, interpretation, and eventual elevation. Behaviorally, that was the turning point.

Here’s the leadership lesson:

Purpose accelerates when self-awareness catches up with potential.

We all have blind spots.

The problem isn’t having them; it’s refusing to confront them.

Reducing blind spots requires intention:

• The humility to receive feedback without defensiveness

• The discipline to observe patterns, not just explain intentions

Because this truth is unavoidable:

We judge ourselves by intent. Others experience us by behavior.

And behavior, not intention, shapes trust, influence, and impact.

If you want healthier relationships, stronger leadership, and sustainable growth, the work begins with awareness.

Ready to identify your blind spots and strengthen how you show up?

That’s the work I do, and it’s transformational.

BISOLA MOGAJI