Seven Habits of the Self-Aware Leader

Leadership McKinley, class of 2018, shares seven must-do habits to move your leadership to the next level. Developing self-awareness and knowing your team means forging connections that count. Self-aware leaders are more effective because they foster communication and invite feedback, make efforts to inform themselves and others, synthesize ideas, and take action.

It’s TIME to become self-aware and move your leadership to the next level!

Listening? Yes Please! Talking? They Say Timing is Everything! Contributor Tammi Moe

People are the ultimate variable in all human relationships. The ability to work effectively between variables is the key to communication and building buy-in. People like to think they are good listeners, when in fact most people are not. Listening and ACTUALLY hearing others takes skill and practice. Active listening requires you to leave your headspace and take on an external point of view. This can be quite difficult! Leaders are called upon to create solutions and solve conflicts, often times overlooking valuable input. When you realize that LISTENING is ATTRACTING you will find a new power! The self-aware leader knows how to create familiarity and ultimately build trust by listening to others. You cannot foster a culture of success if you cannot foster trust. Knowing yourself and how others perceive you allows you to adapt to diverse situations and makes you more emotionally intelligent. Possessing a clear self-awareness ultimately makes an effective communicator who says the RIGHT THING at the RIGHT TIME!

What would you say is YOUR primary or default communication strategy up to this point?

Leading by Example, You Have NO Choice!Contributor – Tony Major

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Self-aware leaders understand that, by design and default, their example is followed, it is simply unavoidable. Leading by example is integral to what is known as “leadership branding.” Smart leaders want to build their brands. Some leaders prefer a prominent role while others will “lead from behind.” The lead-by-example stories executives tell sharpen their leadership brand propositions.

A Silicon Valley start-up CEO attended his company’s diversity/inclusivity training workshop for the entire day. “Everyone needed to know I took this seriously,” he said.

A manufacturing executive pointed to her on- and off-site Spanish lessons so she could better communicate with her workforce.

A senior project manager cited the highly public immediate dismissal of a direct report who had fudged a quality control audit and then lied about it.

A founder/entrepreneur immediately pointed to promoting the college drop-out into a senior management position over an MBA. He wanted his people to value performance over credentials.

A managing partner at a global consulting firm makes a point of coming to the office straight from red-eye flights and radiating productive energy.

At an Asian company, a hard-charging intrapreneur/executive referenced flying to a valued customer in Europe for a week to make sure a novel instrument installation worked as promised.

These brief examples share the revelatory self-belief that they merit admiration and emulation. They actively — not just verbally — communicate values the leader personally and professionally believes important (else why make it a lead-by-example story?) They are intended to define leadership behavior in the enterprise. ii

Trying, Failing, Succeeding. RepeatingContributor – Chuy Morales

“I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”iii

-Michael Jordan

Self-aware leaders are molded by a succession of triumphs and failures. They do not presuppose an ending, instead they seek a continuous journey of self-discovery and learning. Failure, adaptation, and growth are the footpaths of our achievements. Self-aware leaders carry these experiences within themselves, embracing successes and failures equally. It is my belief that to truly experience a great victory, one must also risk and sustain great loss. Accepting shortfalls from yourself and others will strengthen your leadership abilities. If you’re unwilling to make mistakes and possibly fail, your journey is limited. A self-aware leader recognizes that those limitations affect your team as well, possibly keeping everyone from experiencing the big wins. FAILURE repackaged is OPPORTUNITY to try and try again. The self-aware leader pushes the journey onward in the direction of growth and success.

Sharing the Vision Contributor – Anthony Dimas Jr.

Self-aware leaders integrate past experiences with the present in order to succeed in the future. To understand where you are going, you need to know where you are coming from and how you got to where you are today. Without understanding your failures and successes of yesterday, you will not be able to succeed tomorrow and lead the next generation of leaders.

The integration of past experiences and current opportunities inform your “leadership vision” within any organization. Self-aware leaders possess a deeper understanding of what is required to succeed, this deeper connection ensures the “vision” will continue to grow and prosper into the future. When you share “leadership vision” you cultivate young leaders in your organization to succeed. Building the next group of visionaries through mentorship, empowerment, nurturing and leadership cultivation you ensure continued growth and success long after you are gone.

Building Trust

Contributor – Reverend Lorelei Kay

Self-aware leaders build trust by trusting. Years ago, when I worked for a large engineering company, I had a boss who didn't trust anyone. Everything we did was second-guessed, checked and checked again, critiqued, and criticized. The projects this man oversaw were always over budget and over the deadline. No one wanted to work for him, and people often simply slowed down or shut down on the jobs he managed. At the same company I had a boss who gave trust until you showed you weren't trustworthy. The first week I was on a project with him, he gave me (a lowly tech) a job that required engineering information to complete. Because he had shown me trust, I dug in and did the research, and gave him the work he asked from me, thrilled to learn some new information and to be given the opportunity to show what I could do!

Teams can't work without trust, but trust comes from leadership. Individuals need to know they have the trust of their leaders - it inspires people to try their best, sometimes living up to standards they didn't know they could achieve. And it gives groups the incentive to work hard at working together. Trust depends upon the leader having an attitude of learning and growth. Self-aware leaders ask questions, "How did that go?" and "What did you learn?" instead of saying, "Wow, you really blew that." Self-aware leaders trust people to try, to fail, and to try again, until they succeed, and then offer constructive feedback that says, "I trust you to be responsible." When a leader places their trust in others, that trust is quickly returned.

Giving Recognition Contributor – Kaytaundra Francisco

“Don’t worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition”

-Abraham Lincoln

Self-aware leaders know that honoring the contributions and accomplishments of their teams is a guaranteed return on investment; you cultivate an interest in success. Leaders inspire others to push boundaries, test limits, rise above, and to pursue a common dream. Self-aware leaders realize that it is the value of one and the power of all that leads to success and we cannot do it alone. Practice humility in your leadership and share the spotlight with those deserving recognition.

Encouraging OthersContributor – Kaytaundra Francisco

“Don’t just bargain for success. Pay the price” 

-Israelmore Ayivor

Individuals who are serious about leading others find ways to push their teammates to succeed; and along with that, they teach others to accept any failures that may come. Allowing teammates to have a sense of ownership in projects or jobs results in an even better product. When people take pride in what they are doing, they have more determination, and are likely to give 100% (or more!) to the task.

References

i TW-Leaderhship-07.gif . Teamwork Blog. ND https://blog.teamwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/TW-Leadership-07.gif

ii Schrage, Michael. “Like It or Not, You Are Always Leading by Example.” Harvard Business Review.October 05, 2016

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