Self-Awareness and Self-Reflection Improve Our Effectiveness as Leaders

Three weeks ago, we began a series about self-awareness and self-reflection. Encouraged by a number of clients and other readers emailing, today I will share another valuable window of thinking on the subject.

How Do We Stop the Self-Doubt?

One reader asked, “I do self-reflect every day, but how do I stop self-castigating?”  Self-doubt, another topic of discussion in its own right, is that inner voice telling us that we cannot do something, that we are not smart enough, or successful enough, or thin enough, or whatever. 

Ideally, over time and through practice, we gain the quiet confidence to accept that, yes, we can be better and work towards continuous improvement, no matter what we feel we aren’t “enough of” at the moment.

I have previously referred the book, Focus On The Good Stuff: The Power of Appreciation, and explained that negative energy and negative thinking does not serve us well.  I know this is easy to say and a rather difficult practice for some of us to overcome. Please though, if this describes you, find a way to harness your positive energy. Assess who you want to be and what you have to do to become that person.

A motto of the Georgetown Leadership Coaching program is “Up Until Now!” Up until now you have thought and acted a certain way. Now has arrived and you can change for the better. 

Another message a reader sent advised that a leader should listen to her inner voice, which always indicates the right thing to do. Yes, I agree, unless it’s that inner demon telling us we’re not good enough!

I encourage all of us to be leaders, leaders of 1,000, or 100, or a single team member.  Just helping one person do an even better job or stretch herself to be even more than she thought she could be makes a huge difference. All we have to believe is that we are capable of helping one person. Use this thought to combat your self-doubt.

And by the way, being a leader helps our career, even though that is not why we do it. Leadership comes from an attitude of wanting to help others, which directs us to our self-awareness.  “Who do I want to be?  A leader?  How can I help others?” One of the very most important areas of self-reflection in business is, “How do I want to be received by others?”

Everyone wants to do well, to succeed. Some are self-starters who have the inner-confidence to “go for it” by doing whatever is necessary, while others would benefit from our help, our encouragement, our support, and our coaching. Provide this confirmation for them and watch them grow!

I found a wonderful piece on the Internet by Awake Blogger titled “Self-reflection: How to Do It Right.” It begins with a quote from Confucius. By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.

Awake Blogger closes by stating that the reason to practice self-reflection is to be more effective in the doing, the taking action.  I believe that is true.

I hope these thoughts open windows of thinking for you, and that you realize just how critically important self-awareness and self-reflection are to your leadership effectiveness and your overall success.