Self-awareness is our capacity to stand apart from ourselves and examine our thinking, our motives, our history, our scripts, our actions, and our habits and tendencies. Stephen Covey
Leaders who are self-aware are less stressed, have more confidence, and create healthier outcomes. They get things done quicker because they are aware of what’s going on around them and are tuned in to others’ vibes. They have mastered the art of building good relationships and are promoted faster.
A 2018 study by the Predictive Index encompassing over 5,000 people across all industries revealed a consensus: 99.9% of the respondents believed it was important for their managers to be self-aware.
Learn ways to become more self-aware. Watch my webinar: 3 Self-Awareness Strategies With Benefits
The PI study cited traits of bad managers, many of which describe a lack of self-awareness. Bad managers are largely self-absorbed and focused on themselves. They are not tuned in to what those around them need and they are passive about developing good relationships.
The study also found that these managers do not communicate their expectations clearly, they play favorites, they do not care about the career or personal development of their direct reports, they badmouth people behind their backs, they are not interested in feedback, and they want to prove that they are right. It is no secret that these leaders are poor listeners and fail to gain any feedback from reliable people who can help them.
Why is this data significant? It is important because many people are leaving their jobs in record numbers because of their managers. When asked about their intent to stay, 77% of people with bad bosses hope to jump ship soon compared to only 18% of employees with good bosses who plan to leave. Not only is the treatment by these bad managers unacceptable, it is costing companies millions of dollars in time and lost productivity, not to mention the time it takes to train new employees. So many leaders are oblivious to the impact of their behaviors while others have developed such unattractive behaviors that they have lost touch, or they don’t care. They have developed some habits that are unacceptable.
It would seem that all leaders need to learn more about their emotions and tendencies which guide their self-awareness. To excel as leaders, you must first know yourself before you can understand other people.
The first step is to understand what you do well and what you do not. Knowing your own style and your quirks helps you to become comfortable with who you are and how you are different from other people. When you judge other people using your own scale, you are misjudging them in most cases.
Sometimes you can’t see yourself clearly
until you see yourself through the eyes of others
Ellen DeGeneres
In my free webinar on boosting self-awareness, I reveal the three pillars of self-awareness and some strategies to increase it. I have included a bonus giveaway, Tips to Self-Awareness, which offers some additional resources. Sign up for the recorded webinar, which you can watch at your convenience, using the link below:
3 Self-Awareness Strategies With Benefits