Self-reflection: Uncover the True Leader within You

Whether you’re a leader or entrepreneur, we’re all caught up with overloaded email boxes, deadlines to meet, presentations to be done, etc. We are forever busy, but instead of constant acceleration, leadership demands a period when we take a moment to stop and reflect.

Self-reflection is not about spending hours putting together a gigantic plan, but simply taking 15 minutes a day for yourself that can make a significant impact on your life balance and performance. Self-reflection is also a basis for understanding others. How could a leader read other people without having an awareness of her/himself?

Self-reflection is about being self-aware of ourselves: what we stand for, knowing our strengths, weaknesses, and values, and what kind of example we want to set for others.

Here are some of the self-reflection questions you can ask yourself:

• What is really important to me?
• If I lived today over again, what could I do differently?
• What gives me energy?
• What is my current emotional mood and what causes it?
• How are my relationships going?
• Am I aligned in my work and in my life with my values?
• Do I feel good physically?

The reflection must be honest and frank.

If we know ourselves, we tend to act more consistently, and consistency in behavior is a key to building trust and being a role model. Self-reflection is also a building block of our emotional intelligence. It raises our confidence, provides us with healthy self-regard, clarity, and boosts integrity. I also encourage you to regularly ask your trusted friends or family members to provide honest feedback so you can better identify potential blind spots.

It’s one thing to read about self-reflection, but it’s another thing to practice it regularly. As my mentor says: “Common sense is not a common practice.’’ So, I challenge you to schedule a 15-minute self-reflection period today and integrate it into your daily agenda.