Unlock your potential with the power of self-awareness

In this world full of distractions, how often do you pause to truly learn more about yourself?

During a recent leadership session, we reflected on the power of self-awareness and the importance of self-understanding. Knowing who you are and what you stand for can be a game-changer for both your personal and professional life.

Think of archetypes like the ‘Hero,’ who thrives on challenges, or the ‘Caregiver,’ who finds fulfilment in supporting others. We can apply this concept to our workplace authenticity, and how we show up day to day.

My own archetype is the ‘Everyperson’ (or ‘Everyman’ as per the article below) —focused on being relatable, empowering others, and creating an inclusive space where everyone feels they belong.?

Take a look at this article and figure out your own archetype.

https://marchbranding.com/design-insight/brand-archetypes

So why is it worthwhile to understand your personal brand archetype?

Recently, I accepted a spot to deliver a roundtable session for a small group of leaders. I was grateful to have been offered the session, but my preference would have been to run a workshop for a wider, more varied group. This would have been much more aligned with my ‘Everyperson’ archetype, which is all about being down-to-earth and inclusive.?

In hindsight, it was a reminder of the power of knowing our archetype and core strengths, and then making decisions that align with them. If I’d kept my ‘Everyperson’ archetype top of mind, I’d have politely declined the invitation to run the roundtable and asked for a workshop spot instead.

If you’re curious about identifying your own archetype, check out the link above that explains each type. Don’t worry about the ‘big’ brands listed, just look for the description that you feel most aligned with.?

Which of the archetypes do you resonate with? Where in your life are you behaving in ways not aligned with your archetype? How does this make you feel? What can you do about it?

INSPIRE INCLUSION

As I write this, National Inclusion Week here in the UK has just come to an end.

I’m a firm believer in creating inclusive environments (as per my Everyperson archetype) and also in giving people skills to develop their emotional intelligence. Alongside that, a valuable area to keep working on is our communication.?

Effective communication is like a lubricant that helps everything happen more smoothly. It can help us build relationships, deliver feedback more easily, and resolve conflicts. That’s the reason I always try to include at least one or two communication frameworks whenever I speak about DEI or Empathy.

I call this combination of Inclusion, Emotional Intelligence and Communication ‘The Empathy Exchange Framework’ and discuss this blend of skills and behaviours and the benefits they can bring here. https://sholakaye.com/empathy-exchange-framework/

Take a look and let me know what you think.?

WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES?

It’s been a busy period of travel and connection. I recently spoke in The Hague, sharing a client case study on the DEI benefits of creating a foundation of Empathy. I then had a visit to New Jersey to discuss ‘Empathy and Psychological Safety’, followed by a virtual keynote for a group assembled in Tallinn, Estonia on the subject of ‘De-biasing the Talent Journey’.

I just returned from Barcelona, recording a podcast on High Performing Introverts - an exciting topic that’s very close to my heart, and will speak at a Women in Leadership conference in Munich about 'The power of asking' to take charge of one’s career.

I love this work, and I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to connect with so many groups and individuals around the world.

If you’re looking for remote or on-site keynotes and training for your colleagues, please take a look at this high-level list here . Reach out if you'd like to discuss an event for your team.

I also have a few spots left for UK Black History Month. This year’s theme is Reclaiming Narratives.?

During past Black History Month sessions, I’ve shared stories of allyship and being raised by white foster parents, of challenges I’ve faced as a Black, British introvert in extrovert-leaning workplaces, and of the impact that racial assumptions have had on the way ethnic minorities are perceived at work and in society (which includes research from Professor Derald Wing Sue - one of the world’s foremost experts on Microaggressions).

If any of these topics sound of interest, please respond, or email [email protected]

COMMUNICATION CORNER

Self-awareness doesn’t just involve knowing yourself internally - it’s also about understanding how others perceive you, known as external self-awareness. A great way to bolster this awareness is by asking insightful questions of those around you.

Questions like, “What’s something I do that you find valuable?” or “Is there anything I do that might unintentionally hold me back?” can provide eye-opening feedback that helps you grow.?

If you’re looking for more ways to develop your self-awareness, check out this excellent article from Harvard Business Review: What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It) . It dives deep into the nuances of self-awareness and provides practical steps to improve both your internal and external understanding of yourself.

I’m also including this PDF with questions you can ask friends and colleagues to help increase your external self-awareness. I hope it’s helpful!

?? Increase Your External Self-Awareness: 10 Questions to Ask Colleagues PDF

You can even empower others by putting the questions into a google form (or similar) and allowing people to respond anonymously.

And if you’re not quite ready to ask others what they think of you, this article has some excellent questions, with explanations, to increase your internal self-awareness. https://nickwignall.com/10-questions-for-better-self-awareness/

That’s it for this month! As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences. Please do drop me a line.

All the best,

Shola

P.S. Here are a few things you might want to do after reading this newsletter:

1. To look at a high-level list of Shola's keynotes and training for your organisation click here .
2. To view some detailed speech descriptions, go to: https://sholakaye.com/sd
3. And if you’re looking for Leadership talks and training, go to: https://sholakaye.com/empathy-skills-for-leaders-and-managers
4. Book a keynote enquiry call here: https://sholakaye.com/30