Leadership self-awareness is a critical skill for any leader to possess. It involves understanding your own strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations, as well as how these factors impact your leadership style and effectiveness. Developing self-awareness can help you become a more authentic, effective, and influential leader.
Here are ten simple ways you can improve your self awareness:
Reflect on your past experiences: Take some time to think about your past experiences as a leader. What worked well and what didn’t? What did you learn from those experiences? And what can you do better. Reflection helps move awareness forward.
Seek feedback from others: Ask your team members, colleagues, and even your stakeholders for feedback on your leadership style and effectiveness. Be open to constructive criticism and use it as an opportunity to learn and improve and get better as a leader.
Set boundaries: As a leader, it’s important to set clear boundaries and communicate your expectations. This can help you manage your time effectively and ensure that you are able to focus on your priorities.
Practice self-discipline: Leading by example and maintaining self-discipline is crucial for any leader. This includes being punctual, staying organized, and following through on commitments.
Learn from others: Seek out opportunities to learn from other leaders, whether through mentorship programs, leadership workshops, or simply by observing how other leaders approach their work. Surround yourself with leaders you admire.
Seek out new challenges: Stepping outside your comfort zone and taking on new challenges can help you grow as a leader. Look for opportunities to try something new and push yourself to be a better leader.
Practice active listening: Paying close attention to what others are saying and actively listening to their perspectives can help you gain a better understanding of the wants and needs of your employees. Communication is not just about speaking, it’s about listening to learn and understand.
Set goals and track your progress: Identify specific areas that you want to improve as a leader, and set goals for yourself to help you make progress. Regularly review your progress and adjust your approach as needed.
Seek out coaching and development opportunities: Working with a coach can help you develop your leadership skills and increase your self-awareness. Consider investing in your leadership development by participating in a coaching or training program that will help you expand and grow as a leader.
Take time for self-care: It’s important to have a balance between your personal and professional life. Therefore, take care of yourself in order to be an effective leader. Make sure to prioritize self-care activities such as exercise, rest, and relaxation and do the things that help you stay grounded.
Bottom line, self-awareness is the first step toward effective leadership. It’s the ability to see and understand your own thoughts, feelings, and behavior from an objective perspective. It’s about recognizing the impact you have on others.
Lead From Within: Self-awareness gives you the capacity to learn from your mistakes as well as your successes. It enables you to keep growing.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.