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self awareness

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Mindfulness helps leaders be better by assisting leaders in connecting with their target audience, improving their products, thinking strategically, and communicating goals effectively. In my article, “Leader Mindfulness – 5 Ways to Benefit Now”, I discuss the term mindfulness and leader benefits to regular mindfulness. As leaders take on roles as coaches, mentors, and managers, mindfulness has become an increasingly important aspect of leader self-development. A 2018 study found that when leaders fail to manage their stress constructively, more than 50 percent of their employees perceive their leader as harmful or ineffective. Mindfulness techniques can take various forms. Meditation, stretching, breathing, and observation are all mindfulness techniques. In experimental research, mindfulness has been found to improve memory, reduce distraction, and increase empathy. Often mindfulness is linked to successful sports and public figures. For example, Derek Jeter and even the late Kobe Bryant have acknowledged the benefits of mindfulness techniques such as…

I’m on the second floor in my home office searching for my wireless headphones. I’ve looked everywhere and was positive I left them on my desk charging. I did this so that I wouldn’t forget them when it was time for my workout. I’m already 10 minutes late for the gym, and I hate being late. “Quiana!” I scream downstairs. “Have you seen my headphones?” “Ask your sons!” My wife yells back. My response is directed at my twin teenage sons, “Boys! Have you seen my headphones?” One of my sons responds, “What headphones?” This response, of course, is my first indication that he not only knows where the headphones are but likely has them. After a couple of questions back and forth, one of my sons produces the headphones from their bedroom. “Oh, I forgot, I had them on while cutting grass.” My son responds. After a stern reminder…

Journaling is one of those tools that I wish I had known about early in my leadership journey. As a young man, the idea of journaling conjured images of teenagers with diaries hidden under their beds. Later I began to associate the act of journaling as a practice used by mental health therapists. Though both are probably accurate, I recently started to understand the benefit of journaling for leaders, specifically those looking to increase their self-awareness and emotional intelligence. Table of Contents What is journalingThe benefit of journaling How to get started journalingJournaling FAQaTop leadership journalsMy top journaling tips for leadersFinal Thoughts What is Journaling? Though I don’t think about the teenager with the diary hidden under the bed anymore, the concept of journaling isn’t that different. The act of journaling allows a person to transfer their thoughts, feelings, and experiences onto paper. Journaling is a great way to keep…

I often discuss the importance of leaders utilizing all tools at their disposal to increase their effectiveness. In my recent blog, I discuss holistic health and the benefits of adding a holistic approach to the leader’s lifestyle. I want to provide another hidden gem for leaders, business owners, entrepreneurs, etc., leader mindfulness for this article. What is leader mindfulness? The term “mindfulness” refers to the practice of being completely aware and in the moment. A mindful person pays attention to what is happening around them both mentally and physically in a nonjudgmental way. Now apply this concept to your role as a leader; you will be more effective if you can focus your mind and slow down the million and one things going on around you to genuinely see and understand what is happening around you. When I envision mastering mindfulness, I envision Neo when he was finally able to…

If you read, follow or subscribe to any leadership or business blogs or magazines, you know that there is a common consensus that organizations understand the importance of self awareness for leaders. Former Forbes contributor, Victor Lipman, states that “you can’t be a really an effective executive if you’re not fully aware of the effect your actions and personality have on others”. Though Lipman focuses on executives, his statement applies to leaders in the home, work, and community. As mentioned by Randy Grieser from The Ordinary Leader, “Strong leaders must know and understand themselves.” If there is a consensus that organizations require self-aware leaders, then we should assume that most leaders out there are genuinely self-aware. Unfortunately, that’s not the case, at least not according to Tasha Eurich, who discusses self-awareness in her book Insight. Her studies and research found that 95% of people think they’re self-aware, but only 10-15%…

Self assessments are a great way to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. As I mentioned in a previous article understanding your strengths and weakness is critical to the success of a leader. Great leaders understand the importance of taking time to self-assess. Unfortunately, with our busy schedules, we seldom have the time to conduct a complete self-assessment. However, in today’s world of technology, leaders can choose from several quick and easy online self-assessments that are available from your phone or tablet. 16 Personalities may be one of the best! 16 Personalities self assessment According to their website, the 16 personalities model utilizes the acronym format introduced by Myers-Briggs for its simplicity and convenience, with an extra letter to accommodate five rather than four scales. Every person that I’ve recommended this personality test to is surprised at how accurate it is. The 16 Personalities website claims that over…

What is Emotional Intelligence? The concept of emotional intelligence has been around since the 1970s. However, the American Psychologist Daniel Goleman brought the idea to life for the everyday leader in the 1990s. As a result, today’s experienced leaders are conscious of the importance of understanding, recognizing, and managing their emotions. However, awareness does not always translate into action when controlling and managing a leader’s emotions. Hence why emotional intelligence (EQ) and self-awareness are kindred spirits. In a recent article, I ascertain that self-awareness is a critical attribute for a successful leader. This idea extends to the concept of emotional intelligence. Mastering emotional intelligence skills I’ve never had a problem controlling my emotions regarding reacting to stress or losing my temper. In essence, I have always been able to self-regulate. The majority of my previous leaders, including my current leader, have commented on my ability to remain level-headed in stressful…

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