What’s Holding You Back? Identifying Gaps in Your Business Knowledge
Discover how business coaching can help uncover blind spots and accelerate your business growth.
Uncover Your Blind Spots and Unlock Your Potential
Running a business is full-on. One minute you feel like you're gaining momentum, the next, you’re stuck in the weeds, wondering why things aren’t flowing the way they used to. If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Many business owners hit a wall not because they’re lazy or lacking passion, but because they’ve reached the limits of what they know. That’s where real growth often begins.
Are You Hitting a Wall in Your Business Growth?
You’re showing up every day, ticking off tasks, pushing hard. But despite your effort, things aren't moving like they used to. Profit is flat, your team seems disconnected, or you're making the same decisions over and over. It's frustrating, and confusing.
The truth is, sometimes we’re limited not by the resources around us, but by the blind spots within us. You may not realise it, but there might be crucial areas in your business you’ve simply never been exposed to, trained in, or supported with.
This isn’t about fault. It’s about awareness, and that’s the first powerful step in any strategic business coaching process.
How Business Coaching Helps You Identify What You Don’t Know
In my coaching sessions, I often refer to the Conscious Competence Ladder - a framework that helps business owners understand where they sit in terms of knowledge and skill development.
The Conscious Competence Ladder Explained
This powerful model outlines the stages we all go through when developing new skills and knowledge, and it’s especially useful for business owners looking to grow.
Unconscious Incompetence – You don't know what you don’t know. You're unaware of a skill or area that you're lacking. At this stage, you may feel confident, but it's often false confidence built on assumptions. Many business owners live here for a long time, until a problem forces them to look deeper.
Conscious Incompetence – You become aware that you’re missing something. This is often a confronting moment: realising that you’re not managing time well, not reading financials accurately, or not leading your team effectively. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s where learning begins.
Conscious Competence – You’ve learned the skill, but you have to think about it. You’re beginning to read your P&L each month, use new systems, or lead team meetings more deliberately. It requires effort and focus, but you’re getting results.
Unconscious Competence – It becomes second nature. The systems are in place. You know your numbers. You lead with confidence. You’ve hardwired the habit.
What’s remarkable is that every successful business owner climbs this ladder, often multiple times. The key is being willing to acknowledge where you are and take the next step.
Business coaching supports this exact journey: identifying what you don’t know, giving you tools to learn, and helping you embed those habits until they become second nature.
Real Client Example: From Overwhelmed to Empowered
One of my clients, Peter, was running a highly successful plumbing business in Perth. He had grown rapidly through word of mouth and hard work, but beneath the surface, things were starting to unravel. He was working 60+ hours a week, constantly firefighting, and unsure why, despite the revenue, his profits weren’t growing.
Through tailored business coaching, we discovered he had unknowingly skipped over key financial fundamentals. He didn’t truly understand his profit margins, and he had no job costing system in place. Worse, he had team members being paid overtime without any clarity on billable hours.
At first, Peter felt embarrassed. But once he realised this was a knowledge gap, not a personal failing, he got to work. We walked through his P&L, implemented time tracking systems, and trained his leadership team to take on more responsibility.
Within six months, Peter reduced his hours by nearly 40%, profit margins increased, and, most importantly, he felt in control for the first time in years.
That transformation started the moment he admitted: “I didn’t know what I didn’t know.”
How to Recognise Hidden Gaps in Your Business Strategy
So how do you go from unaware to empowered?
Signs You’re Facing a Blind Spot
Here are a few signs that there may be hidden gaps in your business knowledge:
You’re working longer hours, but profit isn’t increasing
You avoid your financial reports or feel unsure interpreting them
You’re unsure what each team member is actually responsible for
You feel stuck making the same decisions over and over
You avoid certain parts of the business (like marketing, recruitment or operations)
These aren’t character flaws, they’re symptoms of blind spots. And once you can name them, you can change them.
Quick Self-Check: Are You Facing a Hidden Gap?
Do I have systems for delegation and time tracking?
Am I confident reading and acting on my financial reports?
Does my team know our vision and goals — clearly and consistently?
Do I avoid or delay key parts of running the business?
If you answered “no” to any of these, it might be time to take a deeper look.
Find out More about our Business Coaching Approach Here
How to Take Action: Bridge the Gaps With Business Coaching
If you’ve recognised yourself in any of the above, the next step is to get curious, not critical. Business coaching isn’t about highlighting your faults. It’s about uncovering potential.
Four Simple Steps to Get Started
Educate yourself: Podcasts, workshops, books, and short courses can open new doors.
Hire a business coach: A great coach will help you uncover what you’re missing and create an action plan.
Build a strong advisory team: Accountant, lawyer, financial planner, don’t do it all alone. The added benefit of having a Business Coach is that they often have an incredible network of advisors they trust and can recommend.
Systemise your business: Often, what feels like chaos is a lack of systems. Start simple.
Ready to Uncover What’s Holding You Back?
We all have blind spots. The difference between those who grow and those who stay stuck is the willingness to look.
If you’ve been feeling stuck or uncertain in your business, let’s explore what’s really going on, and how to get you moving again.
Book a no-obligation discovery call to uncover the hidden gaps in your business knowledge and take the first step toward more clarity, confidence, and momentum.
FAQs about Business Knowledge
1. What is a 'knowledge gap' in business?
A knowledge gap is an area of your business where you're missing critical information, skills, or systems. It often shows up as recurring issues, unclear financials, or constant firefighting. Identifying these gaps is the first step towards creating a more efficient and profitable business.
2. How can business coaching help me identify blind spots?
A business coach acts as a neutral third party with fresh perspective. Through questioning, analysis, and strategy sessions, they help uncover areas you've overlooked or avoided. These insights can lead to big improvements in performance, profit, and peace of mind.
3. Do I have to be struggling to work with a business coach?
Not at all. Many successful business owners engage coaches proactively - to stay sharp, lead better, and grow more strategically. Coaching is as much about maximising potential as it is about solving problems.
4. I’m already busy, will coaching just add more to my plate?
The right coaching should help you create space, not add to the chaos. By identifying what’s not working and implementing smarter strategies, you’ll spend less time reacting and more time leading.