Three years ago, I took a trip to Ireland and spent 2 full weeks traveling throughout the beautiful countryside in May. It was one of the best trips I have taken. I saw some beautiful countryside and wildlife along the way. It helped me be reflective about my values and how I saw myself. And also, ask others what they saw in me. Through the next series of blog posts, I will share some of the wonderful sites I saw in Ireland and how they became an influence for me in self-reflection.
When you are in leadership, it’s important to know how you view yourself, AND how others see you. It can determine your career path and the relationships you build along the way.
Doesn’t the picture of this seagull give you the impression that he knows who he is?
Maybe he is posing for this shot, being bold and confident to get close to the camera to show his best image of inner courage. How do you present yourself with your own inner view of self which transfers to how you show up on the outside? Sometimes the feeling inside is a little less confident than what we show on the outside. That works for a while (fake it till you make it), but eventually you need to feel that same confidence from the inside to be authentic to the outside world. How do you do that??
How do you become more self-aware?
Below are 4 steps you can begin to create more awareness of your values and what you want to portray to the world.
1. Who are you? – Paint a picture of who YOU currently think you are – Start with your physical demeanor, dress, hairstyle, and shoes. Then think about your actions, how do you interact with others. What do you view as your portrayed leadership style? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Finally, think about the relationships you have with others. Who are your 1st tier friends, 2nd tier friends, etc (what makes them unique?). In other words, what is the picture of you?
2. Ask for Feedback – Ask for feedback from others whose opinion you trust and value to give you honest assessment of what they see in your leadership style. In other words, don’t pick people that will tell you what you want to hear. Be diverse in the people you choose. Ensure you choose a few that you see as influencers in the organization.
3. Open Mind to Learn – Be sure you are in the right mindset to learn about yourself. Do you have a growth mindset to ask yourself, “What can I learn from these steps?” If you find roadblocks that keep you from moving forward, your operating from a closed mindset. Ultimately, this will derail your opportunity to grow and create more awareness about yourself.
4. Take Small Steps – Take small actions from the evaluation you conduct on yourself and feedback you received from others. Review how you feel about these changes periodically to see if they feel comfortable for you as you develop as a leader. Do others see the shift in your behavior too?
Taking these few steps to create awareness and shift your thoughts and behaviors will develop opportunities for your career. Do you feel as confident as this seagull to step up to the camera and show your confidence?
If you’d like to learn more about how to develop your own brand and leadership style, I’d be happy to work with you to help you take your next steps.