Who Are You Really?

Knowing yourself is a foundational aspect of being a good leader on this leadership training.

Most leadership concepts and frameworks, like emotional intelligence, assert that self-awareness is the key to being an effective leader.

The concept of knowing yourself is integral to a leader’s success, however it is one of the most difficult concepts to master.

Why? Because most people struggle with knowing who they are, who they really are.

The influence of family members, friends, authority figures, and cultural and societal expectations can shift and distort our understanding of our true selves. When we don’t have an understanding of who we are, we lose clarity regarding our values and goals and diminish our self-esteem and self-confidence.

We can engage in behaviors, make decisions and pursue goals that do not align with who we are, or who we want to be.

There is immense strength in knowing yourself and living your life based on that knowledge.

We diminish our strength when we assume values and pursue goals that are not our own. When we have a deep understanding of our true selves, we have clarity regarding our values, goals and life’s purpose.

Knowing yourself is a challenging process. However, knowing who you really are will be your greatest asset as a leader, your leadership superpower. The knowledge will empower you to lead with authenticity, focus, confidence and integrity.

Are you struggling with knowing your true self and leading with authenticity? Here are 7 tips for cultivating authenticity in this leadership training:

1. Schedule and prioritize time for quiet reflection.During your time of reflection, take inventory of your emotional, mental and physical state.

2. Pay attention to how experiences or interactions with people make you feel. Do you feel energized or drained?

3. Pay attention to what motivates your actions or decisions. Are they self motivated, or are you doing them to please others?

4. Pay attention to when you feel the most confident, focused and certain of your next steps.

5. Do your actions align with your values? How do you feel when your actions align with your values, when they do not align with your values?

6. Spend time with people who affirm and encourage your authenticity.

7. Accept everything that you are, flaws and all!