Being self-awareness is one of the hardest mastery of a leader's journey. It's a process that evokes curiosity, acceptance and choice.

The Power of Self-Awareness in Leadership

Self-awareness is a core leadership capability that will guide you throughout your life. It begins with understanding your strengths, style, personality, and preferences, while also acknowledging your shortcomings. Being aware of yourself enables you to lead more consciously and influence the outcomes of your decisions.

Developing self-awareness is a lifelong journey. Personally, it started as a quest for personal leadership growth, but the gifts it’s brought into my life have been far greater than I ever imagined. Self-awareness has provided me with deeper meaning and appreciation, and surprisingly, although it centers on the self, it has clarified my understanding of the world around me. Trusting my inner voice and being less influenced by external circumstances has made me feel more centered.

Here are some ways I’ve found useful to deepen my own self-awareness:

Quiet Time

Spending quiet time with yourself allows you to remain neutral, observe your thoughts and feelings, and become aware of your physical state. This might include practices like prayer, clearing your mind, or simply enjoying moments of calm, like a walk in the park.

Tip: Quiet time can feel uncomfortable, especially when you’re used to being in a “go-getter” mindset. When I catch myself in this mode, I take a moment to calm down and reconnect with the present.

Reflection

Make time to regularly reflect on your experiences. Reflect on situations at work, your reactions to them, and the outcomes. This practice helps you understand what happened and what lessons you can learn from each situation.

Tip: Sharing your reflections with someone you trust, or journaling about them, can solidify your learning and deepen your insights.

Use Frameworks

Frameworks like the Johari Window or MBTI can help make sense of your thoughts and behaviors. These tools offer valuable insights into your personality and the way you interact with others, helping you navigate situations more effectively.

Tip: While these frameworks provide useful perspectives, they’re not all-encompassing. Don’t get too attached to their labels—remember that we’re all much more complex than any framework can fully capture.

Seek Feedback

Feedback is one of the greatest gifts we can receive, even though it’s often uncomfortable. When delivered with good intentions and care, feedback offers invaluable insights into how our actions impact others. Understanding this feedback helps us become more aware of our influence.

Tip: Use the SBI (Situation, Behavior, Impact) model for structured and neutral feedback. And no matter the feedback, always respond with a simple “Thank you.” It’s tough, but doing so fosters a more positive conversation and can help strengthen your connection with others.

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” ~ Aristotle