From A to A: Self-Awareness in Leadership
Consider these questions:
How self-aware are you?
How do you view the role of Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence in your personal & professional life?
The reason behind this inquiry is based on a recent interaction with one of my favorite teachers. The best teachers are often the ones that get straight to the core and shakes you up-side down (figuratively speaking). In my case, the exchange made me pause and consider those questions, especially since I work with leaders and teams.
Perhaps, we can agree with research claiming self-awareness and emotional intelligence are traits of successful people, especially in leadership?
What’s the point of being self-aware and isn’t emotional intelligence the same thing?
Well, self-awareness is the key cornerstone to emotional intelligence, according to Daniel Goleman. The domains of emotional intelligence are self-awareness, self-management, social awareness & relationship management. Therefore, the ability to monitor our emotions and thoughts from moment to moment is key to understanding ourselves better, being at peace with who we are and proactively managing our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. In addition, self-aware people tend to act consciously (respond) rather than react passively. People who know themselves on a deeper level, have a greater bandwidth to relate, understand and lead others.
Back to those initial questions. In my findings, leaders with self-knowledge often deepen their ability to connect to others. They develop emotional intelligence and cultivate a new mindset which increases their ability to be emotionally and behaviorally agile. Isn’t that the foundation of leadership excellence?
The 4 step leadership model, which I call “The 4 A’s” closely follows this concept:
Awakening. This can be both positive and negative experience. Negative awakening usually involves a loss: of a job, relationship or even death. A positive awakening is often a gain: a promotion, a new baby, a new home. Point being, your life is calling. Wake up…are you prepared, flexible and open to change?
Awareness. Now, ready to pay attention, you can begin to monitor your inner & outer landscapes. Self-awareness is the ability to monitor our inner world, our thoughts and emotions as they arise. Self-reflection, insight, and mindfulness -all aspects of self-awareness, can lead to benefits such as becoming a more accepting person.
Acceptance. This is often where we struggle the most. Acceptance is the willingness to experience ourselves and our lives as things are (as well as other people). Acceptance is a way of responding to emotional activation without reacting, judging, or controlling the experience. It’s when we move away from self-deception, towards reality that we’re truly ready for change.
Action. This stage involves planning, practice and purpose. Take note from mindful action here…which asks us to be prepared instead of having a divided focus. If we don’t have a vision, a desired outcome, a compelling reason why…there will be no intentional action taken, only reactive.
To become more self-aware, understand it’s a process, not a destination.
Then begin: practice, practice, practice! Daily self-reflection and begin noticing how you show up in your life, how you behave (respond vs. react) and the impact you create. Once we gain insight to our own inner world, we become more compassionate and understanding of others. Like Gandhi said, be the change…
To Positive, Powerful Change…Cheers!
Adela
Looking upon leads to awareness. Awareness leads to action.
- Talmud