Exploring the transformative power of self-awareness in leadership, we’ve gathered insights from CEOs, co-founders, and various other executives. Starting with recognizing your own energy patterns and culminating in learning from mistakes for leadership growth, these twenty-one professionals share how self-awareness has elevated their ability to lead.
Recognize Your Energy Patterns
Leaders naturally feel pressure to be eternally switched on. But no one is 100% dialed in every minute of the day. Our energy ebbs and flows, and we each have times when we are more creative, receptive, and engaging.
Having the self-awareness to understand your patterns and the courage to share them with your team can dramatically improve your leadership effectiveness.
For example, as a morning person, I tell my team that I am always up for big ideas, innovations, and challenging conversations early but will likely lose steam as the odometer flips on my 5 a.m. wake-ups. Of course, when managing global staff, you sometimes have to muscle through despite the hour, and, in fairness, you must also respect the preferences of your reports.
Balance is key. Sharing your self-awareness insights will prompt better communication and encourage your staff to do the same, increasing engagement.
Tim Toterhi, CHRO, Plotline Leadership
Embrace Feedback for Growth
Self-awareness has been a cornerstone of my leadership journey, and it’s something I’ve invested in for decades. For me, evolving as a human has always been a top priority because I firmly believe that who I am is how I lead. The more I understand myself, the better I’m able to show up authentically, make decisions that align with my values, and connect with those I lead on a deeper level.
One specific example of how self-awareness has improved my leadership came when I received feedback from my Success Squad—a trusted group that includes my coach, therapist, mentor, and a few key allies. They help me see blind spots that I may not always notice, which is critical for growth.
At one point, they pointed out how my tendency to overthink and over-process situations was causing me to miss out on the present moment. I thought my thorough approach was helping me make more informed decisions, but in reality, I was getting lost in the weeds. I was overanalyzing things to the point of paralysis, which was not only delaying progress but also preventing me from being fully present with my team. This tendency to over-process often led to missed opportunities to connect, celebrate wins, and move forward with clarity.
Their feedback made me realize how much time and energy I was spending in my head rather than leading with the grounded presence I value. It was a humbling moment, but an important one. I began practicing more mindfulness, intentionally letting go of the need to analyze every detail, and focusing instead on being present in the moment with my team and with myself.
This shift allowed me to connect more authentically with others, trust my instincts, and make decisions more efficiently. It also created space for me to embrace the joy of leadership without getting bogged down in the constant cycle of “what if” and “what’s next.”
The insights I gain from my Success Squad continue to help me evolve. Their feedback has been a vital tool in my growth, and I’m grateful for their willingness to help me see where I need to make changes. Overthinking may have been a challenge for me, but with the right support and self-awareness, I’ve been able to shift my mindset and lead more effectively.
Natalie Jobity, Leadership Coach, The Unveiled Way
Adapt Communication to Individual Needs
Self-awareness is one of my top priorities as a leader, so I am always trying to stay mindful of how I can improve my leadership style. Since every team is comprised of unique individuals, I know there is no one-size-fits-all leadership style. That is why—between employee surveys and one-to-one chats—I’m always seeking feedback on not only how I can improve myself as a leader but also how I can work better with my team, which results in wins for everyone, and ultimately, the company as a whole.
For example, if I have an employee tell me that my current method of communication with them isn’t working well, I simply ask them what I could be doing better and begin using that method with them moving forward. If that means communicating the more detailed projects in written form for them, then I am more than happy to do so.
Being self-aware of how every minute aspect of my leadership style affects my team members has helped me grow as a leader and has resulted in optimal workflow with each person on my team. Because I’ve witnessed how much of a positive effect self-awareness has on myself, my leadership, and my team around me, continuing to be self-aware will always be a top priority for me.
John Hall, Co-Founder, Calendar.com
Facilitate Personal Connections at Work
I have been a business owner for over 30 years, and I am a high-energy, nose-to-the-grindstone personality. As such, I have no inclination for small talk or things that I consider “time wasters.” It took me about 20 years to realize that I was in the minority and most people like to have a personal relationship, even when they are at work. So, I have had to purposefully think about how to begin conversations and meetings to allow for the “chit-chat,” as I call it.
At one point, I had a director of operations, and one of her jobs was to start meetings with clients because I would get right down to business, which was too abrupt for most people. We used to refer to ourselves as good-cop, bad-cop.
Nanette Miner, Managing Consultant, The Training Doctor, LLC
Leverage Vulnerability for Team Cohesion
I recall a particularly challenging project a few years back where I was leading a cross-functional team. The project was high-stakes, and deadlines were tight, and I found myself slipping back into old habits of micromanaging and pushing the team relentlessly. It wasn’t long before morale plummeted and progress stalled.
Taking a step back, I realized that my anxieties and fear of failure drove my behavior. I was putting undue pressure on myself and, in turn, on the team. This realization was pivotal. I began openly communicating my concerns with the team, and we worked together to create a more supportive and collaborative environment.
I built trust and reignited the team’s motivation by acknowledging my vulnerabilities and fostering a sense of shared responsibility. We delivered the project successfully and emerged as a stronger, more cohesive unit.
This experience taught me that leadership isn’t about projecting an image of unwavering confidence but about being authentic and human. It’s about understanding your limitations and leveraging your strengths to inspire and empower others.
Vlad Khorkhorov, CEO & Co-Founder, WebsitePolicies
Involve Team in Decision-Making
Self-awareness has been crucial in improving my leadership. Early on as General Manager, I noticed I often made quick decisions without enough team input. This led to miscommunication and missed collaboration opportunities. By becoming more self-aware, I made a conscious effort to slow down and listen, considering diverse perspectives before making decisions. This change not only improved team dynamics but also led to more informed, thoughtful choices.
For example, while managing a major project, I was initially focused on meeting tight deadlines. However, I soon realized I was missing out on valuable team feedback about potential concerns. So, I took a step back, listened to their insights, and adjusted our strategy. This led to a smoother execution with fewer issues, which in turn strengthened trust and communication within the team. This experience really underscored how important self-awareness is in effective leadership, especially when it comes to fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
Carla Niña Pornelos, General Manager, Wardnasse
Enhance Communication and Conflict Resolution
Self-awareness has helped me strengthen my communication and conflict-resolution abilities. Understanding my communication style allows me to modify my strategy to fit the needs of various team members while still ensuring that my message is understood. This flexibility makes things less confusing and promotes a more welcoming atmosphere.
Moreover, having self-awareness has improved my awareness of the dynamics in my team and enabled me to spot potential problems before they become serious. Through proactive resolution of these issues and a greater comprehension of the underlying emotions at play, I am better equipped to mediate, resulting in quicker outcomes and a more harmonious team dynamic.
Nader Qudimat, Coach and Founder, FitFrek
Model Continuous Self-Improvement
Leaders of all organizations—no matter the size or scope—need to understand that they too must always be self-improving. How can one possibly be a good leader if they aren’t seeking out the best version of themselves as well? Leading by example remains one of the most important facets of being a good organizational head, and transparently seeking out new methods of doing business and of personal growth will signal a top-down cultural attitude about this as well.
Casey Marks, Chief Operating Officer, Marks Building Co.
Learn Self-Awareness Through Honest Reflection
Let’s start by being rigorously honest. My self-awareness has been a journey, and I’m still on it. Strangely, I was not taught the habits or skills of self-awareness as a child, so I had to learn the hard way as an adult. In college, it was about being careful what I said around certain personalities. In my early career, it was about being open to feedback and then saying the right things to the right people so I could step up the ladder. As an entrepreneur and business owner, self-awareness has taken on a new level of importance.
When I began hiring contractors in my business, I thought I was being careful—asking strong questions, getting references, and being a good listener. Simultaneously, I was not being mindful of my own biases and perception of the world. This led to some less-than-great experiences, which could have brought an end to my business. I had to step up.
It took strength and honesty within myself to realize that my previous actions were misguided. Luckily, I had one team member who pointed out this lack of self-awareness within me. While it was a hard pill to swallow, I did it. Within a few days, I fired the person who was bringing my business down. It was like taking a load off my back in the weeks that followed. The rest of the team admitted that it needed to be done. Since then, we have been able to increase revenue and improve our operational efficiencies.
I still have work to do on myself as a leader and as a person. There is more to come in my self-awareness journey as I continue to face the difficult choices and decide to open up and grow.
Candice DeRiso, Owner, Beckmann Collaborative, LLC
Delegate and Trust Your Team
I’ve found that self-awareness is one of the most powerful tools for effective leadership.
Early in my leadership journey, I realized that I tended to take on too much, trying to control every aspect of a project. While my passion and commitment drove this, it often led to burnout and sometimes even bottlenecked the team’s progress. Through self-awareness, I recognized this pattern and its impact on my well-being and my team’s effectiveness.
Acknowledging this, I consciously worked on delegating more responsibilities and trusting my team to handle tasks independently. I also regularly sought feedback from my team about my leadership style, which helped me understand how my actions were perceived and where I could improve.
This shift lightened my workload and empowered my team, fostering a more collaborative and trusting environment. It improved overall productivity and allowed us to achieve our goals more efficiently.
Emelie Linheden, VP of Marketing, Younium AB
Trust Team with Independent Projects
Self-reflection has helped me recognize when I’m micromanaging, which can hinder my team’s creativity. By stepping back from this and trusting them more, I have witnessed improved team morale and results. For example, when I allowed my team to lead a project independently, they came up with innovative ideas that I might not have considered.
Evgen Tymoshenko, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at Skylum, Skylum
Adjust Communication for Team Dynamics
Self-awareness has been pivotal in improving my leadership, particularly in how I manage team dynamics and communication. Early in my career, I realized that my fast-paced decision-making sometimes left some of the team members feeling overwhelmed or excluded from the process. At the time, I assumed that everyone shared my sense of urgency and perspective; however, this led to confusion and low team morale.
Through self-reflection and feedback, I recognized that I needed to slow down and be more intentional in my communication. I became more conscious of how my leadership style was impacting the team and started fostering an environment where everyone felt heard and valued.
This shift improved team collaboration significantly. By taking time to explain the decisions, invite diverse viewpoints, and adapt my pace when needed, I saw not only a boost in team morale but also in the quality of the work produced. Self-awareness allowed me to be a more empathetic and effective leader, ensuring that my team was aligned and motivated, rather than just following directives.
This approach also fostered more trust and open communication within the team, leading to better overall performance.
Ira Prevalova, Growth Marketing Director, Adverity
Manage Emotions for Constructive Leadership
In the past, when campaigns didn’t perform as expected or deadlines were missed, I would sometimes react impulsively by expressing my frustration. While my intention was to drive better performance, I noticed that this only created tension and stress within the team, hurting their creativity and collaboration.
Through self-reflection, I realized that my reactions were driven by my own stress and perfectionism, rather than constructive leadership. I worked on recognizing these triggers and managing my emotions before responding. Now, when challenges arise, I take a step back to assess the situation calmly and address issues with a solutions-focused mindset.
Self-awareness has helped me create a more supportive environment, where team members feel safe to innovate and take risks. As a result, the team is more resilient and capable of overcoming challenges together, leading to stronger performance and creative outcomes.
Maggie Bolt, Marketing Manager, Forum Ventures
Listen to Feedback and Improve
Self-awareness has made a big difference in how I lead. For example, I used to take feedback from my team too personally, thinking it meant I was doing something wrong. But once I became more self-aware, I realized that feedback helps me grow and isn’t meant as criticism. I started listening better, understanding where I could improve, and changing how I lead. This change improved my relationship with the team and helped me make better decisions. Now, I see leadership as a continuous process of learning and getting better.
Huang Xiong, Founder & Marketing Expert, BELTBUY
Balance Drive with Empathy and Support
Leading a firm that handles critical and delicate cases, such as sexual abuse, requires legal expertise as well as a deep understanding of how my actions, decisions, and demeanor impact my team and our clients. Self-awareness has improved my leadership in a number of ways.
When our firm was expanding rapidly, the increased caseload was putting a strain on our resources, and I noticed that my natural tendency to push for excellence and quick results was creating undue pressure on my team, leading to stress and burnout. I knew I needed to self-reflect and receive honest feedback from my colleagues, who felt overwhelmed by the pace and the emotional weight of the work.
I took a step back to reassess my leadership style and the environment I was cultivating. I realized that while my drive for high standards was important, it needed to be balanced with empathy, patience, and an understanding of the challenges my team faced daily. I started to focus more on listening to my team’s concerns, encouraging open communication, and being more present and supportive in their day-to-day work.
Being more aware of my leadership style and its effects, I was able to provide a more supportive and collaborative environment where my team felt more valued and understood. This improved their morale but also enhanced their ability to advocate for our clients effectively. As a result, our firm became stronger, more resilient, and better equipped to handle the emotionally intense cases we take on.
Irwin Zalkin, Owner, Founder & Senior Partner, The Zalkin Law Firm P.C.
Reflect on Communication Impact
For instance, I’ve found that understanding my communication style and its impact on the team has been crucial. Early on, I noticed that being more mindful of how I delivered feedback could significantly affect team morale and performance.
By reflecting on my interactions and seeking feedback from colleagues, I realized that a more collaborative and supportive approach was beneficial. I made a conscious effort to be more transparent and to actively listen to my team’s concerns and ideas. This shift in communication style fostered a more open and trusting environment, where team members felt valued and empowered.
As a result, our team dynamics improved, and we achieved better collaboration and problem-solving. This self-awareness allowed me to adjust my approach in ways that enhanced overall effectiveness and satisfaction within the team. It’s clear that being attuned to how my leadership style impacts others has led to more positive outcomes and stronger relationships within the organization.
Joshua Schirard, Director, Byrna
Leverage Team Expertise and Collaborate
As a founder and CTO, the pressure to always be at the top of my game is real. Early on, I fell into the trap of trying to be the technical expert in every room. Realizing this was due to my lack of self-awareness became a turning point.
Now, I actively seek out the expertise within my team. This not only empowers our brilliant engineers but also allows me to focus on the bigger picture—strategy and product vision. The result? A stronger, more collaborative team and a product that consistently exceeds expectations.
Self-awareness isn’t just about knowing your strengths; it’s about recognizing when to step back and leverage the strengths of others.
Ritesh Joshi, CTO, Let Set Go
Adjust Leadership to Support Team
I remember a time when I was leading a major project that was starting to face delays. Initially, I found myself getting frustrated and pushing the team harder to meet deadlines. But after some reflection, I realized that my stress was affecting the team’s morale and productivity.
By being self-aware, I recognized that my approach was contributing to the problem rather than solving it. I took a step back and adjusted my leadership style, focusing more on supporting the team and understanding their challenges. I started holding regular check-ins, asking for feedback, and offering help where needed. This shift not only helped us get the project back on track but also strengthened the trust and collaboration within the team.
Self-awareness allowed me to lead more effectively by understanding how my actions impact others, and it’s something I continuously work on.
Kenan Acikelli, CEO, Workhy
Meditation Enhances Focus and Leadership
Early on, I realized that maintaining a healthy work-life balance was crucial for the success of my business. This understanding prompted me to explore meditation and other strategies to improve self-awareness. One powerful example is the impact of a retreat, where I engaged in extended meditation sessions. The result was a heightened self-awareness, which significantly improved my focus and instilled a sense of calm confidence in my leadership.
My commitment to self-awareness and emotional intelligence tools like meditation and exercise remains unwavering. I prioritize a healthy lifestyle, including clean eating and regular recharging, to manage stress, maintain balance, and enhance mental clarity. These ongoing practices enable me to evaluate, respond, and relate effectively as a leader.
Shane Hurley, CEO, RedFynn Technologies
Appreciate Diverse Team Strengths
Early in my leadership journey, I believed there was only one right way to get things done—my way. I insisted on a specific style and had little tolerance for deviation. This “my way or the highway” mentality created a rigid environment where everyone was expected to work just like me. At the time, I lacked the self-awareness to understand why others didn’t think or act as I did. I saw everyone as an extension of myself, assuming they should naturally approach tasks and challenges the same way.
This lack of self-awareness hindered my ability to recognize and value the unique qualities and strengths that others brought to the table. Unable to fully appreciate my own qualities, I struggled to identify and nurture the distinct strengths in my team members. Instead, I became frustrated when they didn’t conform to my expectations or mirror my style. This approach stifled creativity and led to disengagement among my team.
The turning point came when I began to understand the importance of self-awareness. I started to see myself more clearly—my strengths, limitations, and biases. I realized that my insistence on doing things a certain way stemmed more from my own insecurities and need for control than from a desire to achieve the best results. As I became more self-aware, I recognized the value of different perspectives and approaches.
This shift transformed my leadership style. I began to appreciate that each person brings a unique style and personality to the team. By leveraging these diverse qualities, we could achieve our goals more effectively rather than forcing everyone into the same mold. With this awareness, I created an environment where team members felt valued for their individuality and were encouraged to use their talents.
Instead of dictating the “how,” I focused on defining the “what”—the desired outcomes and goals—and allowed my team members to find their own way of reaching them. This shift empowered my team and led to greater creativity, innovation, and collaboration. By recognizing and celebrating diverse strengths, we achieved better results and built a stronger, more cohesive unit.
Self-awareness taught me that effective leadership isn’t about imposing my way but about understanding my tendencies and using that insight to harness the strengths of others. This realization has improved my ability to connect with my team, build trust, and create a culture where everyone feels empowered to bring their best selves to work.
Jessilyn Persson, Co-Founder, Discover Life by Design
Learn from Mistakes for Leadership Growth
Real progress often comes from being honest about where you need to improve. Learning from mistakes and owning up to them is key to both personal and professional development. This kind of self-awareness helps me see where I can grow and how to build a lasting impact in my business. Knowing my weaknesses has allowed me to build stronger teams by surrounding myself with people who complement my skills.
I’ve made countless mistakes over the years. For instance, early in my career, I was working as a network engineer for a big internet company. I made a huge mistake that took down all of Italy’s internet. Despite the serious nature of the error, I managed to keep my job. This experience taught me a lot about dealing with mistakes—both my own and those of others.
Every screw-up has made me more aware and better prepared to run my business. Those early failures, while tough to swallow, have strengthened me and provided valuable perspective. They’ve shown me that failing isn’t the end of the world. Instead, it’s a chance to toughen up and get ready for whatever comes next. This mindset hasn’t just helped me deal with crises but also boosted my ability to lead and roll with the punches when new problems pop up.
Callum Laing, Founder, Veblen Director Program
Brett Farmiloe is the founder of Featured, a Q&A platform that connects brands with expert insights.
Emotional intelligence stock image by N Universe/Shutterstock