JAMIE’S NOTE

Most of the big mistakes and unethical decisions in history are not made out of bad intentions; rather, they are caused by a lack of awareness. My favourite article from 2024 made me realise that heightened self-awareness, combined with the courage to combat one's flaws, is what it takes to make a leader and build a sustainable organisation. If you have time, I recommend checking out the eight thought-provoking questions in the 'Blind Spot Maintenance' table from the full article.

IN BRIEF
Most leaders will have some blind spots. Often, the more senior they become, the more separated they are from the everyday experiences of the average person. Being able to identify their blind spots and adjust the way that they work is a key part of leading their companies to success.

KEY POINTS

• Self-awareness can make the difference between success and disaster. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, emphasises the need to leverage this awareness. He is well-known both for getting out and meeting employees and for his open-door policy, both of which allow him to break out of the leadership bubble.

• Leaders are often prevented from excelling by internal impediments. Therefore, it’s important to focus on ways to build inner strength and become the sort of leader who puts the interests of their staff above their own. Even positive traits such as optimism can, at times, have negative side effects such as unrealistic expectations.

• Leaders can use self-awareness to change the way that they work. For example, one leader removed the chairs from his office, forcing himself to go out and engage with others to overcome his introversion. Another purposefully sat back and didn’t jump into discussions in order to give others in the team the chance to come forward with their suggestions.

• The majority of people are not self-aware. Research identified 44 common leadership blind spots including being a people pleaser, micromanaging, being easily distracted or being unable to manage your emotions. Identifying your own blind spots can be hard, as it requires proactively seeking honest feedback from colleagues. People are also very good at fooling themselves. Also, many people in today’s social-media driven society find it difficult to step back and look at themselves objectively.

THE BOTTOM LINE
In order to develop more self-awareness, leaders need to develop both internal and external awareness. Tools such as 360-degree feedback and coaching are useful for developing external awareness and making room for quiet time during your day or week or even sabbaticals can help you find the time to be more curious about your internal landscape.