What are some effective ways to evaluate your own leadership skills?

2 360-degree feedback

Another way to evaluate your own leadership skills is to solicit 360-degree feedback from people who work with you in different capacities, such as your peers, subordinates, superiors, clients, and suppliers. 360-degree feedback is a method of collecting and analyzing feedback from multiple sources to get a holistic view of your performance and impact as a leader. You can use formal tools, such as surveys or interviews, or informal methods, such as conversations or observations, to gather 360-degree feedback. The key is to ask specific and relevant questions that relate to your leadership goals, skills, and behaviors, and to listen openly and constructively to the responses.

3 Coaching and mentoring

A third way to evaluate your own leadership skills is to engage in coaching and mentoring relationships with professionals who can offer you guidance, support, and advice. Coaching and mentoring are learning processes that involve regular interactions between you and a coach or mentor who has more experience, knowledge, or expertise in your field or industry. A coach or mentor can help you assess your current situation, identify your gaps and opportunities, set realistic and challenging goals , develop action plans, monitor your progress, and provide feedback and encouragement. You can find a coach or mentor within or outside your organization, or through professional networks or associations.

4 Self-reflection and journaling

A fourth way to evaluate your own leadership skills is to practice self-reflection and journaling on a regular basis. Self-reflection and journaling are techniques that allow you to examine your thoughts, feelings, actions, and results as a leader, and to learn from your experiences. You can use self-reflection and journaling to review your achievements and challenges, analyze your decisions and outcomes, identify your patterns and habits, recognize your emotions and triggers, and discover your insights and lessons. You can use different formats and prompts for self-reflection and journaling, such as questions, statements, stories, or models.

5 Feedback culture

A fifth way to evaluate your own leadership skills is to create and foster a feedback culture within your team and organization. A feedback culture is a culture where feedback is valued, encouraged, and exchanged regularly and constructively among all members. A feedback culture can help you improve your leadership skills by creating a positive and supportive environment where you can give and receive honest and respectful feedback, learn from your mistakes and successes, celebrate your achievements and growth, and inspire and empower others to do the same.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?