In this episode of the 5 Leadership Questions Todd Adkins and I sit down with Brad Lomenick to talk about why self-awareness is so important for leaders and how a leader can get better at it. We offer practical tips about question asking, feedback and more. Here are the five questions we ask:

* Why is accurate self-evaluation and significant self-awareness so important for a leader?

* What are some examples of the mistakes NON self-aware leaders make?

* How can you be sure you are self-aware or are assessing yourself accurately?

* What are 2-3 habits someone can work on to develop in self-awareness?

* What are the best resources you know of for developing self-awareness and growing in self-evaluation?

BEST QUOTES

“Self-awareness is where leadership starts.”

“If you have a lack of self-awareness you’re walking around in fantasy land.”

“Self-awareness and authenticity go hand in hand.”

“In an era when leaders are demanded to be public figures it’s even more important because self-awareness keeps you from shooting yourself in the foot.”

“Everyone on your team is already aware, likely before you, of the things you don’t do well.”

“I ask what do you want me to stop doing, start doing, and keep doing as part of every performance review.”

“It takes an enormous amount of self-awareness to say ‘I should step away.’”

“The higher you go in leadership the more your lack of self-awareness get exacerbated.”

“We usually judge ourselves really graciously.”

“Even if we don’t like ourselves we still treat ourselves nicer than we treat everybody else.”

“We’re not the center of the story.”

“If people you pay are the only people giving you feedback you’re not getting good feedback.”

“Give permission for people to hit hard.”

“Stack yourself up against the fruits of the Spirit.”

“Never forget the living, breathing Word of God.”

“The essence of blind spots is that you can’t see them.”

“Humility assumes there’s always something you’re not doing or not being that you should be.”

“Am I getting better?”

“Where am I seeing the most impact?”

“You want to be careful you’re not lying to yourself or listening to the wrong voices.”

“How much do people enjoy being around me?”

“If you’re growing in your awareness of other people that’s probably a sign you’re growing in self-awareness too.”

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES

The Emotional Intelligence Quick Book by Travis Bradberry and Jean Greaves

Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman

Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

Strengths Based Leadership by Tom Rath and Barry Conchie