No, not the TV series where you discover your ancestor was sent to the Land of Ugg as a convict for stealing a loaf of bread, became a sheep farmer and made his millions…almost Dickensian Magwitch-style.
I mean more like the Delphic maxim ‘Know Thyself’ inscribed on the forecourt of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. It’s the most difficult thing of all. At least that’s according to Thales, the Greek philosopher.
By the way, he also said, when asked what was the easiest thing…“To give advice”.
Centuries later Benjamin Franklin concurs. He said:
“There are three things extremely hard, steel, a diamond, and to know one’s self.”
Increasingly, that’s what you hear about how to improve your leadership . . . know yourself.
Increase your self-awareness.
Know your triggers.
It’s not commonly taught in business schools.
It’s not commonly taught in leadership development programs.
Yet, it makes very good business sense.
According to a 2013 study by Korn Ferry, “poor-performing companies’ employees were 79% more likely to have low overall self-awareness than those at firms with robust returns on revenue”.
Self-awareness is one thing, but what do you do with it?
Korn Ferry cite Teresa Amabile, the Havard Business School professor who says:
“[Self-awareness] is very hard to do. It relies on leaders not only being open to feedback from others… but it also means knowing how to use the feedback and actively and regularly seek it.”
So it starts with awareness and then you have to make a decision. What will you do with it?
Don’t be too hasty to decide.
Are you sure your perceptions are accurate?
Back to Benjamin Franklin. He said: “Observe all men; thy selfmost.”
- Journal.
- Meditate.
- Reflect.
- Turn inwards.
They all help. Truth is, you simply can’t do it all on your own. Not if you really want to know thyself.
Everyone has blind spots
Like overestimating your ability to:
- be innovative
- think strategically
- relate well to others, etc.
That’s where no amount of reflection will get you where you need to be. You need others’ input too.
From one or more people you trust.
Who you feel safe to be vulnerable with.
Who are willing to tell you how they really see you.
Then it’s time to decide…what will you do with this new knowledge. What do you want to change and how will you do that?
Vaneet Nayar, author of ‘Employees First, Customers Second’ is also cited in the Korn Ferry report. I love what he said:
“Unless you become uncomfortable with who you are, you will not stop being an ant,” Nayar said about many insular companies and incurious leaders. “You can be a fast ant, you can be a rich ant, but you’re still an ant and you’ll never be a butterfly.”
Are you truly comfortable with yourself? Are you sure you couldn’t be doing better? You could be an even more beautiful butterfly.
So now you’ve become more aware, you’ve decided what you’re going to work on, now your task is to do the work:
“‘Know Thyself’ was written over the portal of the antique world. Over the portal of the new world, ‘Be Thyself’ shall be written.” Oscar Wilde
Knowledge without action is nice, but it’s not enough.
Best wishes,
Michelle
