Self-awareness is a key skill for any leader. It helps you become more effective, proactive, and intentional in your decisions. To help you become more self-aware and reflective, here are 10 tips to get you started.
1.Receive feedback
.Receiving feedback from others is a great way to gain insight into your leadership style. However, it's important to remember that all comments come through the filter and bias of the person providing them. That's why self-reflection is so important. It allows you to think strategically about what's most important to you and your organization. Karen Cates and Brenda Ellington Booth, both experienced executive coaches, suggest that leaders cultivate self-reflection.
This means taking time to relax and reflect on your experiences, as well as developing humility as a leader. Gustavo Razzetti, author of “Stretch for Change” and “Stretch Your Mind”, also emphasizes the importance of self-reflection.
2.Be proactive
. Self-reflection can also help you be proactive rather than reactive. For example, one of Cates' clients was having difficulty responding to her older male colleagues in meetings.Through self-reflection, she was able to develop a response mechanism that allowed her to stay on track.
3.Evaluate your behavior
. Think about how crucial self-awareness is when it comes to launching sales pitches or managing comments. If you're not aware of how you'll react or don't have a way to avoid a negative reaction, you could get into trouble. That's why it's important to evaluate your behavior in relation to the standard set by great leaders.4.Seek executive coaching
.Executive coaches can also help you become more self-aware. They provide an opportunity to challenge assumptions, rephrase problems, and digest feedback. Ultimately, the immense amount of understanding, reliability, and wisdom that self-aware leaders possess equips them with critical skills for success. Self-awareness isn't always easy, but it can help you become a more effective leader. By following these 10 tips, you can learn how to be more reflective and intentional in your decisions.
