Have you ever “bit off more than you could chew”? What were the consequences of doing so? For me, the impact of taking on a project that was beyond my capability when I started my own business 20 years ago was enormous. I wasted two years developing a product that was a complete dud. I lost considerable savings, opportunities, and sleep.
Why did I take this risk? The root cause of my error was in not knowing myself well. I didn’t understand how my strengths and weaknesses affected my choices. I didn’t fully appreciate the impact this lack of self-knowledge had on my decision making and problem solving.
Knowing who we really are is critical because it forms the basis of how we make decisions. That’s because the decisions you make every day are based on your impressions of your skills, knowledge, talents, values, and leadership styles. For example, if you volunteer to take on a difficult project, you would do so because you believe you have the right skills to accomplish the mission. If your assessment is accurate, you make a good decision. If your self-assessment is flawed (as mine was), your project is in trouble.
Of course, as a leader, you need to unleash the energy of others toward worthy goals. These others will respond to your leadership based on their perspective, not yours. Therefore, knowing yourself is not enough. To lead well you need to know yourself well and how others see you.
One way to “know thyself” better is to ask those close to you for honest feedback. Invite them to challenge your point of view, your decisions, and your biases. Let them know you are strong enough to doubt.
Another approach to knowing yourself better is to take a 360-assessment. There are many good ones on the market. Click here to read more about the XLM 360-assessment, which I developed and validated over the last several years.
As you get to know thyself well, how surprised will you be that you are no longer deceived by what you believe?
Keep stretching,
Dave
Dave Jensen helps leaders manage ambiguity, gain buy-in to any change, improve decision-making, and achieve difficult goals in today’s complex, competitive, and conflicting environment. For a FREE Chapter of his forthcoming book, The Executive’s Paradox – How to Stretch When You’re Pulled by Opposing Demands, visit http://davejensenonleadership.com/
