Self reflection is all about doing the work, understanding yourself deeper, who you are and how you’d like to be. It's not about seeking perfection, it’s more about working with our limitations and making a proactive and conscious decision on any growth or development areas that you’d like to make.
It involves understanding yourself at your core, how your actions impact those around you and also how the environment you are in is impacting your ability to lead. It's easy to be an effective leader when everything is going smoothly, but what happens when you have a crisis on your hands or you are just having a bad day? What happens when you are stressed, feeling overwhelmed? Or what if this happens to someone on your team, your own manager, or the company is going through change? It’s also pushing yourself a little further and asking yourself what is holding you back and are you living the life/leadership journey you want to be living? All too often we get in our own way and hold ourselves back. I find self reflection can be a great way to evaluate and take any next steps. I recently read that "True leadership requires a willingness to be introspective and reflect on one's own strengths and weaknesses. Only then can you lead with authenticity and humility." which makes total sense to me
As a coach, I have had the privilege of working with numerous leaders from different backgrounds and industries. One thing that I have noticed is that the most successful leaders are those who are committed to doing the work and focusing on self-awareness and reflection as part of their leadership journey i think most of them would agree that Self-reflection is the path to self-awareness, and self-awareness is the key to effective leadership
There have been times in my life where I wasn’t sure how to handle certain situations and suffered from self doubt creeping in or just feeling that I didn’t have the time to focus on my own well being and sometimes even the team as i was just focused on getting the day to day things done. Upon reflection, I found that having the tools to cope with these situations and understanding my behavior in moments of stress was critical for me and to be honest I am still on my own journey and expect this to be an ongoing adventure. As leaders we also
need to be able to grow and learn from our mistakes and our successes and also why not learn from others too.
"Leaders who take the time to reflect on their actions and decisions are the ones who are able to learn from their mistakes and grow as leaders."
The journey of self awareness is an ongoing process and not a destination, we change and so do our teams or sometimes it’s just the situation we find ourselves in. When you have a clear understanding of your own strengths and limitations at different times and how you react in different moments, it can help you more effectively lead your team and make decisions that are in the best interest of everyone involved.
Self-awareness involves being open to feedback and learning from mistakes. The most successful leaders are those who are humble and open to constructive criticism. They use feedback to grow and improve, rather than becoming defensive or dismissive.
One way to develop self-awareness is through regular reflection. This can be as simple as taking a few minutes at the end of each day to reflect on your actions and how they impacted those around you. You can also seek out feedback from your team members and peers, or work with a coach or mentor to gain a deeper understanding of your strengths and weaknesses.
Ultimately, doing the work and focusing on self-awareness is not just about becoming a better leader, it’s about becoming a better person. When you commit to your own growth and development. This can create a positive ripple effect that can impact everyone around you. Some questions that can create self reflection that i like to ask myself or my clients are:
What are my core values, and how do they guide my decisions and actions as a leader?
How do my actions impact those around me, and what can I do to improve my interactions with others?
What are my superpowers and that of my team?
How do my past experiences shape my leadership approach and decision-making?
What are my biggest strengths and weaknesses as a leader, and how do they impact my team?
How do I handle failure and what do I learn from it?
How do I communicate with my team, and how can I improve my communication skills?
How do I handle conflict, and what strategies can I use to resolve it effectively?
How do I manage my emotions in high-pressure situations, and what techniques can I use to stay calm and focused?
How do I prioritize my time and energy, and what strategies can I use to maximize my productivity?
How do I foster a culture of inclusivity and diversity within my team and most importantly how am I creating a sense of belonging so people show up as themselves?
How do I maintain a healthy work-life balance, and what steps can I take to avoid burnout and stress for myself and that of my time?
These questions may seem straightforward but think back, when did you give yourself the opportunity to ask these questions and what have you done with the insights? Like me you may have created an action item about it and then moved on with your busy day and demand of the team. I know all too often that was something I did. We all get busy and its easy for our own self development to be a little lower in the list. I learnt perhaps the hard way that self care and self development are not luxury items they are a must in the road toward being a great leader
"The best leaders are those who prioritize their own self-care. When you take care of yourself, you are better equipped to lead others with clarity and compassion."
The value of focusing on self-awareness is that it can lead to greater clarity, effectiveness, and empathy for your leadership style and being able to reach out when you need an extra pair of ears or some additional advice. When you have a better understanding of your behaviors, values, and impact on others, you can make more informed decisions and build stronger relationships with the team. You can also use this empathy to create a culture of openness and feedback, where everyone is encouraged to reflect on their own behaviors, create a sense of belonging so all team members feel valued and able to shine their light!
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