Business authority leads to departmental worship which decimates accurate self-awareness.
According to Oxford Languages, the definition of a buzzword is, “(a) keyword; a catchword or expression currently fashionable; a term used more to impress than to inform, esp. a technical or jargon term.” In the world of technology, if there is anything more annoying to our users than an antiquated CI-No, it’s surely an overused buzzword. So, let’s shy away from that, shall we?
The leadership word of the month for April 2024 is self-awareness.
Self-awareness is defined as, “Conscious knowledge of one's own character, thoughts, emotions, etc., esp. regarded as a positive quality.”
Definition of self-awareness
Why does self-awareness stand out above other leadership words and buzzwords? Simple. It is vitally important that you not only know what you’re talking about, but also know with accuracy how you are being received.
Again, why and how is this helpful?
- While a leader may offer vast knowledge, education, and/or expertise, if the delivery is insufferable-to-slightly-bothersome, the message will eventually be lost. If not the first time, then the next or the next.
- Is there actual expertise or have you just read a new leadership article or book? While we might be able to fool an audience once or twice by regurgitating words recently read, one best hope to goodness that no audience member has read the same book and/or that your following actions remotely match your plagiarized knowledge as shared. At a minimum? Always cite your source.
- Many leaders are surrounded by a flock of ‘yes people’. As a leader, are you certain you are effective and well-received or are your closest users ones that fear your power, want to remain on your good side, and/or relish positive acknowledgement from you to the detriment of truth?
In all instances above, poor delivery, impact, effectiveness, and performance silently communicate to users that there’s some trickery going on.
Identified trickery translates to lightly sociopathic assumptions that your audience is not bright enough to connect dots. Are you not the author? Do results not match the promises? Does your presentation personality outshine words spoken in an off-putting way?
Building and improving self-awareness is as simple as your ego lets it be.
What if you discover your effectiveness is horrid? Can you keep your ego in check to consume that message then humble yourself to improve others’ perception? Don’t fear letting your guard down and shelving your ego for a bit. This is important.
Not getting anywhere? It’s easy to think you’re the best when your most trusted advisors tell you or continually infer you’re the best. Unsure? Ask your toughest peers with strong personalities. ‘The tough cookies’ as I like to call them. Those always providing feedback that might come across as harsh, critical, and even inflammatory. Peel off the personality-based tenor and try to glean the clear, unfettered message. Think on it. Embrace it. Work to improve it.
Unless you are a leader only looking for short-term respect and effectiveness, improving self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses is the best investment you can make in yourself. You don’t need to be the best at anything to be a great leader. But you do need to be authentic, effective, and self-aware enough to call out yourself from time to time.
