Beware! Be self-aware!
To be a great leader you must be self-aware.
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In this constantly changing world, effective leadership is not just about strategies, vision, or charisma. At the heart of truly great leadership lies self-awareness. It's the internal compass that guides you to make informed decisions, build cohesive teams, and create lasting impact.
Self-awareness refers to a leader's understanding and recognition of their own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, motives, and behaviours. It's the ability to objectively assess oneself, acknowledging both areas of excellence and areas for improvement. Self-aware leaders are better equipped to adapt, make informed decisions, empathise with others, and build stronger teams, as they are aware of how their actions and behaviours impact those around them.
Why is Self-Awareness Critical for Leaders?
Emotional Grounding: Understanding one's emotions helps leaders respond rather than react in challenging situations, creating a balanced and constructive environment.
Authenticity: Self-aware leaders are more genuine, making them more relatable and trustworthy in the eyes of their teams.
Informed Decision-making: Recognising their biases and strengths allows leaders to make more objective and holistic decisions.
The Classic Tale of Narcissus
Narcissus, in Greek mythology, was a young man known for his extraordinary beauty. He was so enamoured by his own reflection in a pool that he fell in love with it, not realising it was just his reflection. Unable to leave his reflection, Narcissus lost his will to live and stared at his reflection until he died.
While this is a tale about vanity and self-love, it can also be interpreted as a lesson in self-awareness. Narcissus was captivated by a superficial understanding of himself - his reflection. He did not understand the deeper aspects of his being or his place in the world. Self-awareness goes beyond the surface, prompting us to understand our deeper emotions, motives, strengths, and weaknesses, and not just our 'reflection'.
As leaders, it's vital we see beyond our superficial 'reflections' and recognise who we truly are deep inside.
Four Steps Every Aspiring Leader Should Take
Self-Analysis: Regularly evaluate your strengths, weaknesses, and reactions to situations. Ask questions such as, "What went well today?", "Where can I improve?", "What are my strengths and weaknesses?", "How do I react in stressful situations?", and "What are my core values?". This process helps in recognising patterns in behaviour and identifying areas for growth.
Feedback: Embrace external feedback. Approach peers, mentors, or instructors and ask for honest feedback regarding your behavior, decisions, and interactions. This external perspective can provide insights that you might overlook and will highlight how others perceive you.
Personality assessments: Take psychological or personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the DISC assessment to gain insights into your personal traits and behaviours. (We'll cover this in more detail in a future issue).
Journalling: Maintain a leadership journal. Document daily experiences, challenges faced, decisions made, and your feelings about them. Over time, reviewing these entries can offer valuable insights into your growth, patterns, and areas needing attention.
Recommended Resources
"Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ" by Daniel Goleman: This book delves into the concept of emotional intelligence, of which self-awareness is a key component.
"Leadership: The Power of Emotional Intelligence" by Daniel Goleman: A collection of Goleman's key articles on leadership, emotional intelligence, and self-awareness.
A Continuous Journey of Self-discovery
What do all great leaders have in common? They are fully self-aware of their actions and behaviours and they continuously work on improving those aspects that still aren't quite right or they adapt to take into account changing circumstances.
Becoming self-aware takes patience and serious honest reflection. At times it can be hard to process, especially the negatives, but the payoffs are huge if you can master the skills.
Next time…
If you've enjoyed this issue please hit subscribe and join our journey. Our next issue will look at the second foundation stone of leadership - self-discipline.
Ta very much for your support
JP
Founder, theTeasdaleway