Dear leader, how do you see yourself?

The success of a leader does not only depend on their ability to communicate but also their level of self-awareness. Research shows that self-awareness is essential for personal and professional growth, and high levels of self-awareness have been linked to better decision-making, improved emotional intelligence, and increased job satisfaction. Self-awareness can be achieved through various methods, including introspection and seeking feedback from others, to name a few.?

More self-aware leaders understand how they would react to certain situations, how others may perceive them, and how to navigate those interactions for positive outcomes. The cultivation of self-awareness in leaders is crucial for promoting positive leadership behaviors and fostering a healthy work environment.

Practical Tools to Build Self-Awareness

CCL’s article on Ways to Boost Self-Awareness uses the Johari Window Model to understand the difference between how leaders see themselves versus how others see them. As claimed by CCL, this communication theory is one of the most useful tools to build self-awareness.?

The Johari Window has four quadrants- the Public, Private, Unknow-able, and Blind spots. The blind spot quadrant is perhaps the most interesting of all. It represents an opportunity for dynamic, and powerful change. Discovering something others know about you that you did not recognize about yourself can create a transformational shift in your personality.?

As a leader, it's important to know the difference between your reputation and identity. Your reputation is how people talk about you and your general public perception. It goes on to reflect your values, strengths, weaknesses, and motives. On the other hand, your identity is how you perceive yourself, and it is instrumental in effective leadership. If your identity does not match your reputation, it can cause challenges down the road.

Words that match with actions are key to building credibility as a leader. If you claim to prioritize your team's needs, then your actions must reflect that. The organizational culture is derived from the leader's identity, which can create a gap between identity and reputation, which is why leaders need to strive for self-awareness to close this gap.

Bridging the Gap with Feedback Culture

A culture of feedback is essential for leaders to become more self-aware and bridge the gap between their reputation and identity. A white paper on Busting Myths about Feedback- What Leaders Should Know published by CCL states that leaders can promote a culture of continuous improvement by providing positive feedback. The study also observed that constructively delivered negative feedback can be a powerful tool for leaders to motivate employees to improve performance. Some ways to introduce a feedback culture in leadership could include:

Establish a psychologically safe workplace

Creating a safe space is essential in building a feedback culture. Leaders must ensure that their team members feel safe to speak their minds, and ambiguity should be reduced as much as possible.?

Lead with vulnerability

Leaders must be the first to openly speak up about their mistakes, and share their learnings. Celebrating and recognizing team members who open up and show vulnerability can help foster a culture of transparency.

Identify and work towards improving blind spots

Leaders must identify and work towards improving their blind spots. One way to identify blind spots is by analyzing patterns in their behavior to identify areas for improvement.?

To improve blind spots, leaders need to listen to what people are saying and sometimes even read between the lines. When others suggest or hint at a potential blind spot, encourage them to explain what they see.

In essence, strengthening self-awareness entails embarking on a personal and professional journey of attentive listening and inquisitive questioning. By committing to this journey, leaders can open themselves up to a wealth of insights and opportunities for growth. So, dear leader, take the time to reflect on how you see yourself and take steps toward becoming more self-aware.