Good leadersare not necessarily wise or tactical. They are self-aware. They acknowledged their areas of strength and weakness, and they presented themselves in a manner that made them endearing to others. Self-awareness is the building block of all other things in leadership. Without it,the most well-intentioned plans will come out wrong. Read on to learn more!

Why self-awareness matters

As a leader, you are always under scrutiny. What you say and do matters. Even what you do not say can impact how your team feels and performs. When you do not know how to present yourself, you may end up causing:

• Confusion
• Tension

This might not be intentional, but it happens.

Self-awareness is knowing the effect you have on others. Understand your triggers, values, and patterns. This way, you will be able to lead more clearly and intentionally.

You will not be just reacting as always. Rather, you will be making conscious decisions that will fit you as the kind of leader you desire to become. Successful business leaders from the Reza Satchu family have this in common. They are self-aware.

Understandyour strengths and your gaps

It is easy toconcentrate on your strengths only. However, it is always good to be open about what you do not know. Everyone admires such leaders.

Recognize your strengths first. Then, lean into them with confidence. You do not need to be the brightest in the room. You only need only to allow others to shine. So, acknowledge your limits and welcome cooperation. Consequently, your team becomes stronger.

Seek honest feedback

Self-awareness sometimes means having to use the mirror you never wanted. That is to ask people surrounding you to give feedback. It is not always easy. But it is priceless. Seek the opinions of your team members, colleagues, or mentors about your leadership.

• What do they appreciate?
• In what areas do they perceive development?

When you get responses, be open-minded. Avoid being defensive. This way, you convey that growth is more important to you than ego. And it is that humility that makes you more influential.

Lead by example

The best thing about self-awareness is that it is infectious. When your team observes that you reflect, make mistakes, and do your best to better yourself, they will do the same. You have established the spirit of a culture in which honesty and learning are applauded.

Reflect

One of the strongest habits that you can develop as a leader is to take time and reflect. The question to ask yourself is:

• How did I present myself today?
• Did I listen fully?
• Did I act in a manner that developed trust or destroyed it?

Enhance your reflection through:

• Journaling
• Meditating
• Taking five silent minutes at the end of the day.

In the long run, reflection can assist you in identifying positive and negative patterns to make a deliberate change.

The bottom line

Know yourself. Consequently, you will be able to lead authentically, clearly, and empathetically. And that is what people recall about leadership.