Self-awareness or self-knowledge is, to my thinking, the bedrock of effective leadership.
Knowing your own strengths, weaknesses, values and motivations is essential if you want to be able to lead others with clarity and authenticity.
Knowing yourself means you can make decisions that are aligned with your personal beliefs and goals. You can communicate more effectively and inspire confidence in your team.
How can you get to know yourself better as a person and then as a leader?
- Self-reflect: Set aside time to reflect on your personal motivations, the things that might ‘trigger’ you, how you respond to other people. Journalling is a powerful tool, or engage a coach or mentor to help gain insights into what makes you tick as a leader.
- Seek feedback: Ask for feedback from your team members, colleagues and supervisors about your performance and the ways in which you conduct yourself professionally. Be open to constructive criticism, accepting it for the gift it really is.
- Set development goals: Identify areas you’d like to improve as a leader, whether that’s communication, decision-making or emotional intelligence. Set goals and create a plan to work on those over time.
- Engage in leadership development: Attend seminars, enrol in programs or training sessions focused on leadership development. Seek opportunities wherever you go to learn and grow as a leader.
- Mentorship: Find a mentor who can expand your thinking and stretch you as a leader.
- Practice self-care: Take care of yourself physically, mentally and emotionally so that you have the energy and resilience you will need to inspire and motivate others.
Work with me!
Leadership development begins with self-awareness. And that’s where my programs are different. You’ll take the time to reflect deeply on who you are, your values, your motivations and your aspirations. And then we’ll get to work building on that self-knowledge to develop your leadership literacy.
Email karen@o2advisory.com.au to find out more.
