The Awareness Cycle: A Model for Personal and Professional Growth

Over the last 20+ years, I have coached numerous individuals and interviewed even more. My primary focus has been on managers in supply chain, operations, and manufacturing, as well as managers from other disciplines such as finance, sales and marketing.

While I have worked with many at the C-suite level, most of my interactions have been with middle and frontline management. Through these experiences, accumulating roughly 10,000 hours of listening to managers discuss their careers, decisions, successes, failures, and responses to uncertainty, I've observed several common themes.

One of my key interests has been understanding how people respond to uncertainties, insecurities, decision-making, opinions versus facts, the choices they face, and the anxiety they experience. This collective experience has led me to identify a fundamental truth: developing self-awareness and reflecting on our actions, moods, and ways of being is crucial for living a more fulfilling life.

This understanding inspired me to create the Awareness Cycle model, which highlights critical steps and the role that awareness plays in the choices we make and the actions we take.

Introducing the Awareness Cycle?

The Awareness Cycle is a dynamic, iterative process consisting of five key stages:

1. Awareness: Recognizing and understanding your current situation, thoughts, and feelings. This stage requires honesty and vulnerability, acknowledging that there is always more to learn and different perspectives to consider.

2. Options: Identifying the possible courses of action available. This involves exploring different scenarios, weighing the pros and cons, and considering both immediate and long-term consequences.

3. Choice: Making a decision based on the options identified. This step is about commitment and taking ownership of the chosen path.

4. Action: Implementing the chosen option. This stage involves taking concrete steps towards your goal, being mindful of the impact of your actions on yourself and others.

5. Personal Responsibility: Reflecting on the outcomes of your actions and taking responsibility for them. This step closes the loop, feeding back into increased awareness and continuous improvement.

The Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership

Our level of self-awareness directly impacts our emotional intelligence, a crucial skill for managers aiming to lead teams and organizations effectively. Research shows that self-awareness is foundational to emotional intelligence, which comprises self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. Daniel Goleman, a pioneer in emotional intelligence research, highlights that "leaders with a high degree of self-awareness know their weaknesses and aren’t afraid to talk about them" (Goleman, 1998).

As managers, it is not just about what we do but how we do it. Understanding who we become under stress, uncertainty, and anxiety is essential. Failing to recognize these aspects can lead to dysfunction, as others respond to our communication, mood, and positional power. According to the Center for Creative Leadership, "leaders who lack self-awareness often fail to realize how their own behavior is creating problems for the team" (Center for Creative Leadership, n.d.).

Leadership significantly impacts organizational culture. A lack of self-awareness can result in poor leadership practices, contributing to a negative work environment. Studies indicate that leaders with high emotional intelligence create more empathetic and effective workplaces, improving job performance and team dynamics. The Center for Creative Leadership notes that "empathy in the workplace (a factor closely correlated with emotional intelligence) is positively related to job performance" (Center for Creative Leadership, n.d.).

Why Self-Awareness Matters

Self-awareness helps leaders understand their reactions to stressful situations and everyday interactions. It involves recognizing our thought processes and emotional responses, which can be influenced by our mental models and assumptions. By becoming aware of these patterns, leaders can better manage their emotions and interactions, fostering a more positive and productive work environment (Center for Creative Leadership, n.d.).

Moreover, our self-talk often provides clues about our underlying motivations. Leaders who engage in reflective practices and seek to understand their internal drivers are better equipped to navigate complex situations and lead with authenticity and empathy. Reflecting on personal experiences and understanding the underlying emotions can help leaders enhance their emotional intelligence (Center for Creative Leadership, n.d.).

Conclusion

The Awareness Cycle model underscores the importance of self-awareness in leadership. By developing this skill, managers can enhance their emotional intelligence, improve their leadership effectiveness, and positively influence organizational culture. Embracing self-awareness involves being open to learning, recognizing that our perceptions are not absolute truths, and continuously reflecting on our actions and their impact on others.

Investing in self-awareness and emotional intelligence is not just a personal endeavor but a professional imperative for effective leadership. As we cultivate these qualities, we become better equipped to lead with empathy, resilience, and authenticity, ultimately fostering a more engaged and high-performing workforce.

References:

1. Center for Creative Leadership. (n.d.). [Emotional Intelligence and Leadership Effectiveness](https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/emotional-intelligence-and-leadership-effectiveness/ ).

2. Goleman, D. (1998). [What Makes a Leader?](https://hbr.org/1998/11/what-makes-a-leader ). Harvard Business Review.