Self-Awareness: The Self-Aware Leader

One of the first exercises I did post-burnout or what they call ‘post-traumatic growth’ was to systemise my daily routine.

This was essential in making sure I was able to both hit the brakes and understand the damage I was doing.

I’d heard of an analogy called the ‘three-legged stool of recovery’, which emphasised rest and relaxation, a healthy lifestyle, and support systems.

While it’s a commendable system, I couldn’t simply go all in and think I could change. I knew my journey to self-awareness was only starting…

My foundation was broken, a result of years of abuse, thinking the stress and anxiety were normal and part and parcel of the responsibilities I had.

The Process

I started with something simple. A 5-minute ‘reflection’ writing session in the morning.

Before I would grab my phone and drag my mind out of sleep, I would spend a couple of minutes deep breathing and then write. Just write.

Anything and everything. without editing, overthinking, analysing, reading it back to see ‘how it looks’, etc.

It worked as a way to clear my mind and release any worries or anxiety, some of which came the night before, ones where I’d think I could ‘solve’ this while sleeping or ‘it’ll simply disappear with a new day.’

I found that writing down my thoughts and expressing them on paper made me stop sometimes and think, does this even sound like me? why so serious? why am I spending time worrying about this?

Often, it didn’t, and that was a helpful realisation in itself. A step in the right direction of self-awareness.

Nowadays, I journal twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

My current template on Notion looks something like this:

I’ll write more about why I’ve included various fields to this in the next newsletter and include a real entry :-)

Reflection Time: What’s stopping you from spending 5 minutes in the morning with a pen and paper dumping your thoughts and worries? Be honest…

What The Research Says

Tasha Eurich, an organisational psychologist and researcher, conducted a multi-year study involving thousands of participants to explore self-awareness.

Their findings were quite revealing: despite 95% of people believing they are self-aware, only about 10-15% actually fit the criteria of being self-aware.

This research was highlighted in Eurich's book "Insight: Why We're Not as Self-Aware as We Think, and How Seeing Ourselves Clearly Helps Us Succeed at Work and in Life."

Eurich's study emphasises the gap between perceived and actual self-awareness and suggests that developing true self-awareness can significantly enhance leadership effectiveness and overall success.

Here’s a link to the book on Amazon:

Practical Tip

Set aside 5 minutes at the start of the day for self-reflection.

Use this time to dump your thoughts on paper without judgment, without thinking hard, and without analysis.

This practice will help you gain clarity and set the day on the right tone.

Fun Corner: Self-Awareness Challenge

Look in the mirror, make the funniest face you can, and hold it for 10 seconds.

How did that make you feel?

I found it hard to stick it out for 10 seconds! I won’t be winning any face model awards, that’s for sure!

Your Journey Begins Here

As you embark on your journey towards greater self-awareness, remember that every small step counts. Reflect on the stories and tips shared today, and take that first step towards a more balanced and effective leadership style.

Share Your Thoughts

I would love to hear from you! What resonated with you the most from this edition? Do you have personal experiences or reflections on self-awareness that you’d like to share? Hit reply, and let’s start a conversation.

Until next time, keep reflecting, keep growing, and remember – the power of self-awareness is the key to effective leadership.

Thanks for reading!

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