We often suggest that “self-awareness” is the most important attribute of leadership.  It takes time and effort to reflect on who we are, what we want and need, how we feel, react and behave in a variety of situations, and our other capacities on a personal, family and business level.  This doesn’t require spending hours on a black leather couch, though in many instances that’s beneficial, but it does require an investment of energy and the willingness to take a risk.

We often suggest a 360 performance appraisal process where you get anonymous feedback from those around you.  Learning more about how you are perceived by those with whom you regularly interact and comparing those perceptions to your own can be invaluable.  The tricks to success are a willingness to honestly accept the feedback and a willingness to change.

Another alternative is employing our Attributes of Leadership ^TM process where you benchmark the leadership needs of the business against the competencies of a current or emerging leader.  This can also be used to compare the perceptions of others to your own.

A third approach is to consider the use of a personal coach – someone who understands you and your business and is able to support, guide, mentor, inspire and help effect positive change.

All of these approaches will increase self-awareness and lead to opportunities for self-development.  But, as Daniel Goleman cautions, they ought not lead to self-obsession, constant doubt, hyper-analysis.

If you want to learn more about any of these approaches to heightened self-awareness, give us a call.  We’d be pleased to learn your goals and objectives and see if we can help.