In my role as a leadership development coach I have found that one of the most profound truths in leadership is this – you can’t change what you can’t see. Leadership isn’t just about strategy, vision, or execution—it’s about who you are as a person. The most effective leaders I know share one powerful trait: self-awareness. To put it simply to lead effectively you must know yourself to lead yourself. If you can’t lead yourself then I would say it is impossible to lead others effectively.
Self-aware leaders understand their strengths, recognise their blind spots, and take responsibility for their impact on others. The ability to see yourself clearly is a game-changer in leadership, allowing for better decision-making, stronger relationships, and more effective team dynamics.
Three compelling reasons why self-awareness is essential for any leader who aspires to be truly impactful:
1. Better Decision-Making
When you understand your own biases, triggers, and values you make better, more rational decisions. You all have a bias knowing what they are enables you to self manage and self regulate when to act naturally will not produce a good outcome. When self-awareness is lacking, decisions can be clouded by unconscious fears, personal insecurities, or unchecked assumptions. Research from Korn Ferry suggests that companies with self-aware CEOs significantly outperform those with leaders who have low self-awareness.
When you recognise what drives your choices, you become more intentional, objective, and strategic, qualities that lead to better business outcomes.
2. Stronger Relationships and Team Performance
As a self-aware leader you will understand how your emotions, words, and behaviours impact others. This leads to greater empathy, adaptability, and trust—critical components for high-performing teams. A study published in “Harvard Business Review” found that leaders who exhibit high levels of self-awareness are more likely to create environments of psychological safety, where employees feel empowered to contribute, innovate, and take risks.
If you want a culture where people thrive, and are therefore engaged and productive, start by assessing how your leadership affects those around you.
3. More Effective Conflict Resolution
Conflict is inevitable. However, as a self-aware leader you will handle it more constructively. Instead of reacting defensively, you recognise your emotional triggers and approach difficult conversations with greater composure. You also acknowledge your own role in conflicts, which fosters accountability and collaboration rather than blame.
By seeing yourself more clearly, you can address issues with honesty and fairness, leading to better outcomes and stronger relationships.
How Self-Aware Are You?
A Leadership Assessment:
Assess your level of self-awareness by answering these seven questions honestly. Each question invites you to reflect on key aspects of self-awareness in leadership.
- Do I regularly seek feedback from my team and genuinely listen to it?
- Am I aware of my emotional triggers and how they affect my leadership?
- Can I articulate my core strengths and weaknesses with clarity?
- Do I recognise patterns in my decision-making, including biases?
- How do I respond when someone challenges my ideas or authority?
- Do I adjust my leadership style based on the needs of my team?
- Am I conscious of the impact my words and actions have on others?
As you answered these questions hopefully honestly most of you will acknowledge there are areas you can improve in. It may be the first time you have looked at this. If so let me encourage you to lean into any discomfort you felt. This is usually a sign you need to take action. There are great rewards for increasing your influence if you work on this area.
Making the Unconscious Visible
The best leaders commit to lifelong self-discovery. One of the most effective ways to deepen self-awareness is through structured personality assessments. Tools like 5 Voices, The Enneagram, or Myers-Briggs (MBTI) for example can reveal unconscious patterns, blind spots, and opportunities for growth in a structured way showing how you can make changes towards more effective leadership.
Understanding yourself at a deeper level enables you to lead with greater confidence, authenticity, and impact. If you’re serious about improving as a leader, take the next step: invest in a 30 minute discovery call with me to discuss what personality assessment would be best for you because you can’t change what you can’t see.
