Self-Awareness and Leader Effectiveness

What is self-awareness? According to Goleman and other leadership & organizational development theorists it involves the ability:

• to 'locate' ones self in relationship to all others and all other things;
• to determine (discern) the 'reality' of the relationship (current reality, culturally expected reality (norms), and the desired reality (self-determined, moral, ethical, rightly-related reality/relationship);
• to discern the emotional, psychological 'reality' of others (EI, SI).

Here's a great Case Study: the New Testament disciple-follower, Peter. Jesus asked who do others say I am? He followed that question then with 'Who do YOU say I am?" Jesus was examining Peter's leadership in the context of self-awareness. In essence he was asking: What do you know about what the 'others' believe and how does that 'relationship' influence/impact Your own belief system and/or behaviors? Who do you believe I am and who are you in 'light of that realization/reality/revelation/relationship? This is the essence of leadership: relationship. Knowing oneself in light of those relationships is vital to remaining authentic as a leader - to maintaining one's integrity with humility. Relationship is grounded in, strengthened by, leader self-awareness; and relationship is the KEY to leader effectiveness. Lead on!

I Remember

The Sacrifice On somber ground a flower grows Stirred by winds, a spangled banner blows Across the valley as our freedom waves Above their sleeping, silent graves. O'er this scene a bugle's sound Now dedicates this hallowed ground. Reverence now this sacred sod And words that flow from throne of God, "Rest safely in your guarded lands Hold child and loved ones in your hands The blood is shed, the enemies flee But freedom never will be - 'free'" Gracie O. Dunavent & Mary Angeline Ross (c) May 26, 2008 In Honor of Memorial Day, 2008 and in honor and memory of those who have paid for with their very lives the freedoms we yet live to enjoy. I will always remember.

Dark Sides of Leadership & Loyalty

Check out this SlideShare Presentation exploring the relationship between Narcissism in Leadership and Organizational Codependency by Lit Review (c) Mary A Ross May 2008

Mary ross narcissism & codependent ppoint

View more presentations from Mary Angeline Ross.