In an age where effective leadership is paramount to organisational success, the concept of self-awareness emerges as a critical driver of impactful leadership. Self-awareness is not just about recognising one’s strengths and weaknesses; it encompasses a profound understanding of one’s emotions, values, and the impact one has on others. For industry leaders and CEOs, cultivating self-awareness can lead to more informed decision-making, stronger relationships, and a thriving organisational culture. This article delves into the multifaceted nature of self-awareness, practical techniques to enhance it, and the wisdom drawn from Advaita Vedanta that can deepen this understanding.
The Multifaceted Nature of Self-Awareness
Self-awareness can be broadly categorised into two dimensions:
- Intrapersonal Self-Awareness: This involves a deep understanding of one’s emotions, motivations, and behaviours. Leaders with strong intrapersonal self-awareness can recognise their emotional triggers and biases, allowing them to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
- Interpersonal Self-Awareness: This dimension focuses on how one is perceived by others. Leaders who are interpersonally self-aware can understand the impact of their words and actions on their team members, imbibing a safe space to collaborate deeper.
Both aspects are essential for effective leadership, as they allow leaders to navigate complex interpersonal dynamics and make decisions that align with their values and organisational goals.
I am sharing some techniques (that I use) to enhance Self-Awareness
- Reflective Practices: Engaging in reflective practices, such as journaling or meditation, can provide leaders with valuable insights into their thoughts and behaviours. Setting aside dedicated time to reflect on daily experiences allows leaders to identify patterns in their reactions and decision-making processes.
- Actionable Tip: Dedicate 10-15 minutes at the end of each day to journal about your experiences, focusing on what went well, what challenges you faced, and how you felt in various situations.
- Solicit Honest Feedback: Creating a culture of open communication is essential for self-awareness. Leaders should actively seek feedback from peers, subordinates, and mentors. This not only provides diverse perspectives but also fosters an environment where team members feel safe to express their thoughts.
- Actionable Tip: Implement regular feedback sessions or 360-degree reviews to gain insights into how others perceive your leadership style.
- Practice Mindfulness and Emotional Regulation
Mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing or mindfulness meditation, can enhance emotional regulation and promote clarity of thought. By becoming more aware of their emotions in the moment, leaders can make more deliberate choices in how they respond to challenges.
- Actionable Tip: Incorporate mindfulness exercises into your daily routine, such as taking a few moments to focus on your breath before entering a meeting.
- Leverage Personality Assessments
Using personality assessments like MBTI, DISC, or the Enneagram can help leaders gain insights into their inherent traits and preferences. Understanding one’s personality can illuminate leadership styles and areas for growth.
- Actionable Tip: After completing a personality assessment, discuss the results with a trusted colleague or coach to explore how these insights can inform your leadership approach.
- Engage in Executive Coaching
Working with an executive coach (like me) can provide personalised guidance and support in enhancing self-awareness. Coaches can offer external perspectives, challenge assumptions, and facilitate deeper self-reflection.
- Actionable Tip: Seek out a qualified executive coach who aligns with your leadership values and can help navigate your self-discovery journey.
Advaita Vedanta: A Philosophical Approach to Self-Awareness
The ancient philosophy of Advaita Vedanta offers profound insights into self-awareness that can enrich leadership practices. This non-dualistic perspective encourages individuals to recognise the interconnectedness of all beings and to look beyond the ego.
- Atman and Brahman: Understanding the Self – In Advaita Vedanta, the concept of Atman (the individual self) and Brahman (the universal consciousness) emphasises that true self-awareness involves transcending the ego and recognising one’s connection to the greater whole. Leaders who internalise this philosophy can cultivate humility, empathy, and a sense of shared purpose.
- Detachment and non-attachment – Advaita Vedanta teaches the significance of performing one’s duties without attachment to the outcomes. This principle can help leaders maintain clarity and objectivity, enabling them to make decisions based on the greater good rather than personal stakes.
- Unity in Diversity – Embracing the concept of unity amidst diversity can enhance leaders’ interpersonal self-awareness. Recognising that every individual contributes uniquely to the collective experience fosters a culture of inclusivity and collaboration.
- Self-Inquiry: The Path to Inner Truth – The practice of self-inquiry, or asking oneself “Who am I?” encourages leaders to delve deeply into their motivations and beliefs. This introspective journey can uncover limiting assumptions and lead to profound personal growth.
Reflection
In the pursuit of effective leadership, self-awareness emerges as a transformative force. Drawing inspiration from Advaita Vedanta, leaders can enrich their self-awareness journey by embracing the interconnectedness of all beings, practicing detachment, and engaging in self-inquiry. The synthesis of these insights and techniques empowers leaders to navigate the complexities of modern business with authenticity, empathy, and purpose. I listen a lot to the talks of Swami Sarvapriyanada and it is eye-opening. As industry leaders and CEOs commit to cultivating self-awareness, they not only enhance their own leadership capabilities but also create a ripple effect that inspires their teams to thrive
The views and opinions published here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the publisher.
Extending beyond academia; Ankoor has been honoured with the "CIRCLE OF EXCELLENCE 2024" award by Passion Vista and recognized as the "MAN OF EXCELLENCE, 2024" by the prestigious Indian Achievers' Award. Additionally, he received the "LEADER 2.0 AWARD, 2023" from adgully and was named a "DIGITAL KAIZEN LEADER by DigiAdCon 2024”, Dr. Dasguupta's contributions to the field of marketing are widely acclaimed, marking him as an inspiring thought leader in his domain. Ankoor is also a member of IMA India’s CMO Forum.
Most recently Dr. Dasguupta has been selected and felicitated with the national level award -Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam Inspiration Award 2024 in the category Youth Icon of the Year.
Dr. Dasguupta is a key member of the esteemed International CMO Council and keeps delivering lectures at top Business Schools and also colleges at University of Delhi. As an industry expert, Ankoor has also been a member of the interview panel at MICA for their PGP Group Exercise & Personal Interview PI process for PGDM-C/PGDM selection for two consecutive years. Dr. Dasguupta is also on the Advisory Board of the Marketing Department at ISBR Business School, Bangalore. Recognized by DMA Asia as a marketing Ace, Dr. Dasguupta is a LinkedIn Top Voice, advocate of social impact, driven by kaizen, Ankoor believes in the power of Energy and Energize
Dr. Ankoor is practicing his PCC (Level 2) coaching from the gold standard International Coaching Federation [ICF]. He is a people's person and has worked across functions in senior leadership positions in marketing, advertising, media & communication with a pedigree of 24 years and ongoing exciting journey. Trained from Dale Carnegie in Mentoring to Develop Talent, Ankoor is a marketing practitioner, a coach, a knowledge manager, a team builder, a thought-leader, an avid writer with close to 100 published articles / interviews and is a Thought Leader. Dr.Ankoor wears the hat of a CMO as well. His leisure pursuits are reading, effective listening and percussion. Follow Dr. Ankoor Dasguupta on LinkedIn| https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankoordasguupta/
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