Self-Awareness: The Key To Effective Leadership

Self-Awareness: The Key To Effective Leadership

We’ve all experienced a leader who wasn’t self-aware. When a leader is self-aware, they have the ability to focus on themselves and see how their own actions, thought, and emotions do or do not align with their internal standards.

We see this when a leader has set a corporate mantra of integrity, positivity, and appreciation, but his actions do not align. This leader berates his employees, doesn’t see anything good happening, and cooks the books.

Yeah, he’s not self-aware.

Yet, self-awareness is key to effective leadership. Without self-awareness, your employees will think you’re inept and not worth following.

Developing Self-Awareness

To become an effective leader, you have to develop self-awareness. Thankfully, this is a skill that can be taught and developed.

New Year, New You

Don't stop transforming

For many, the new year means a new beginning… Until February. Studies show 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by the second week of February.

This is discouraging news. Especially for those of us who set New Year’s resolutions.

You don't have to stay broken. You can become new

Photo by Dustin Tramel

You may have set a resolution to:

  • Lose 40 pounds by July
  • Learn a new craft or skill
  • Treat your family members with more respect
  • Start a new business

But by the second week of February, you’re feeling discouraged. The progress you thought you would have made by this point hasn’t been realized. You feel like a failure.

Why We Fail At New Year’s Resolutions

We get discouraged when we don’t see progress. We believe we should see extraordinary progress. Reality is you will see incremental progress.

The Habits Of A Disciplined Leader

The Disciplined Leader Series

Becoming a disciplined leader takes hard work. You have to discipline (duh!) yourself and break yourself of the bad habits you’ve created.

You’re going to have to create new habits. The habits of a disciplined leader.

Learn the habits of disciplined people

Photo by Saffu

Are you ready?

The Habits Of A Disciplined Leader

1. They practice self-care

The first habit of a disciplined leader is the habit of self-care. This isn’t a call to be selfish. This is a call to make sure you and your body are in optimal condition.

Disciplined leaders know they have to do a couple of things to make sure they’re the best that they can be. To practice the habit of self-care, a leader must:

Regularly exercise
Renew his mind
Eat healthily

Basically, self-care means you take care of your body and mind. You don’t do drugs, drink alcohol in excess, or over-indulge. You also make sure you’re inputting good things into your body and mind.