The Power of Self-Awareness in Leadership
By: Jennifer Franko, Coach & Account Manager, Renogize Professional Coaching
Intentionally building self-awareness isn’t usually top of mind for leaders. Many clients say they’re too busy with responsibilities and managing distractions to make it a priority. If this resonates with you, humor me on this point:
Do not underestimate the power of self-awareness, especially in leadership.
Even amid responsibilities and distractions, you can still keep your finger on the pulse of self-awareness. Arguably, it’s the foundation of being an extraordinary leader.
Here are two simple questions to build self-awareness:
1. What am I noticing about me?
2. What do I want to do with this insight?
And then you get to choose to either grow and move forward—or not. I hope you choose growth.
You can process these two questions in a matter of minutes and even seconds throughout your day. If you’re a leader, this practice is critical to your success and those you lead.
How is this helpful as a leader?
The more you can understand and lead yourself, the more you can understand and lead others. John C. Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence.” Renogize’s Co-Founder and CEO, Sean Olson, takes this statement to the next level:
“If leadership is influence and influence is behavior, then how are you behaving like a leader?”
To know if you are behaving like a leader requires self-awareness.
You know you’re building self-awareness when you...
Recognize how your emotions influence your leadership style and adjust your approach to inspire and motivate others.
Understand your blind spots and seek feedback.
Navigate work dynamics better, manage your stress, adapt to challenges, and engage in productive conflict.
Make better decisions and communicate more effectively.
Build strong relationships.
A fantastic side-effect of building self-awareness: You model and inspire those around you to do the same, fostering a culture of continuous growth.
Building self-awareness requires intentional effort. And that’s up to you. My hope is you take intentional steps into deeper self-awareness and find the treasure it produces.
