How can you use self-awareness to improve your decision-making as a Servant Leader?

1 Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the capacity to manage your own emotions and empathize with others. It is essential for servant leaders, who need to build trust, motivate, and inspire their followers. Self-awareness is the foundation of EI, as it allows you to identify and regulate your emotional reactions, as well as to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. By being self-aware, you can avoid impulsive or biased decisions, and instead make decisions that are aligned with your values and goals, and that take into account the needs and feelings of your team.

2 Ethical judgment

Ethical judgment is the ability to make decisions that are fair, responsible, and respectful of the rights and dignity of others. It is crucial for servant leaders, who need to uphold high standards of integrity and accountability. Self-awareness can improve your ethical judgment by helping you to examine your own moral principles, to acknowledge your potential biases or blind spots, and to seek feedback from others. By being self-aware, you can make decisions that are consistent with your ethical values, and that reflect your commitment to serve the common good.

3 Critical thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information from various sources and perspectives. It is important for servant leaders, who need to solve problems, innovate, and adapt to changing circumstances. Self-awareness can enhance your critical thinking by enabling you to assess your own strengths and weaknesses, to question your assumptions and beliefs, and to challenge yourself to learn and grow. By being self-aware, you can make decisions that are based on evidence, logic, and creativity, and that consider the implications and consequences of your actions.

4 Communication skills

Communication skills are the ability to express, listen, and collaborate effectively with others. They are vital for servant leaders, who need to communicate their vision, values, and expectations, and to foster a culture of feedback and dialogue. Self-awareness can improve your communication skills by allowing you to understand your own communication style, preferences, and tendencies, as well as to adapt to the communication styles, preferences, and tendencies of others. By being self-aware, you can make decisions that are clear, concise, and respectful, and that invite input and participation from your team.

Self-awareness is not a fixed trait that you either have or don't have. It is a skill that you can develop and practice through reflection, feedback, and learning. By becoming more self-aware, you can improve your decision-making as a servant leader, and enhance your effectiveness, credibility, and influence.