In our last blog, we mentioned briefly that self-awareness is a major component to success, and we want to expand on that just a little bit, because it’s so incredibly important.
In fact, self-awareness isn’t a major component, it’s THE major component. Without self-awareness, you will almost certainly fail as a leader.
What does it mean to be self-aware?
For starters, self-awareness is not about knowing what you like or what you want. It’s much deeper than that.
Self-awareness is the ability to look within yourself and pinpoint your exact strengths and weaknesses. It’s the ability to know where you excel and where you need work. Most importantly, it’s the ability to be completely honest and open with yourself about what you realistically can and can’t do.
One mistake too many leaders make is letting their passions or wants get in the way of reality—especially when it comes to decision making. Simply because you “want” something doesn’t always mean you should go after it. And if you lack self-awareness, you’re more likely to make emotional or knee-jerk decisions that not only impact you, but your employees, your profit, and your entire company.
And speaking of your employees, you should be preaching self-awareness to them as well. In fact, it should be a topic of conversation during every one-on-one. Instilling this value in your employees will help them communicate better with you and other team members, and it will ultimately make them more productive.
Practicing self-awareness
It’s important you understand that self-awareness is an ongoing practice. So you need to make a conscious effort to settle down and focus on yourself every day.
A good way to start would be to make a list of your strengths and weaknesses. Remember, be completely honest with yourself. It’s not always easy to admit where you need improvement, but it’s very important you recognize that.
Second, double check your strengths and make sure you’ve listed things that you’re actually good at, not just things you *want* to be good at. It’s critical that you realize your passions and strengths might not always line up.
Next, look over your weaknesses. What on that list do you *need* to improve on? Which of your weaknesses affect your day to day? Keep in mind, you don’t have to master everything. It’s perfectly okay to leave some weaknesses unattended and surround yourself with other people who can excel in those areas.
Lastly, go all in on your strengths. Wherever it is that you truly excel, take full advantage.
One final note, on your path to self-awareness, it’s good to have someone you can communicate with and who can help you get to where you need to be. At Success Plus, we offer one-on-one coaching services to business leaders, so contact us today.
