Yvon Chouinard’s leadership is a testament to the power of self-awareness, as he has successfully balanced the growth of his company with a strong social mission. According to an article on Inc.com, self-awareness enables individuals to make better decisions, build stronger relationships… feel more confident, and drive higher profits.
However, self-awareness often lags behind our perceived reality. There are three aspects to self-awareness – the level of our self-awareness, the accuracy of our self-awareness, and the type of self-awareness – and focusing on these can help individuals acquire this essential superpower. To develop self-awareness, it’s essential to reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and actions before, “during,” “and after significant interactions.” This can help bridge the gap between our self-perception and others’ perceptions. As Yvon Chouinard’s example demonstrates… self-awareness is critical for effective leadership and achieving success.
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As an executive communication coach, I have the benefit of hearing the queries of leaders in terms of their communication and also witnessing the impact of their improved communication skills. Over the years, I’ve highlighted listening , confidence , and storytelling as the most critical communication skills, probably in that order.
Recently, a different communication superpower that trumps these skills has hit my radar. I’ve witnessed the consistent success of executives who possess this superpower. The executives who lack the skill never seem to meet their potential. It’s this: self-awareness.
There’s plenty of research to back up the assertion that self-awareness may be the most critical communication superpower. You’ll find a wealth of information in the book Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think by Tasha Eurich. Eurich says that improved communication skills can help you make better decisions, build stronger relationships, feel more confident, be more creative, achieve that promotion, drive higher profits, and generally be a more effective leader.
There are three ways that our perceived self-awareness and true self-awareness are often at odds; the level of our self-awareness, the accuracy of our self-awareness, and the type of self-awareness. Focusing on these three aspects of self-awareness can help you acquire this underappreciated and necessary superpower.
We live in our heads, and as humans, we are conscious of our consciousness. But this doesn’t mean we think deeply about our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Focus on your thoughts, feelings, and actions before, during, and after significant interactions to elevate your self-awareness.
Your self-perception is often not aligned with others’ perceptions. We’ve all witnessed examples of this. You know that manager who labels themself as a great people leader but who bullies and intimidates others? Or that co-worker who considers himself a great listener but who’s always interrupting?
