If we had to name the most critical quality in a leader, our first thoughts might be attributes like strategic foresight,听business acumen听or听technical expertise.听While听it might come as a surprise,听self-awareness 鈥� not the so-called 鈥渉ard skills鈥� 鈥� is the number one predictor of leadership success听according to听听by Cornell and Green Peak Partners.听听
Based on听a longitudinal study听of听72 top-tier听business leaders听in 31 global firms, the听study found听a听direct听connection听between听strong interpersonal skills听and superior听financial听results. On the other听hand,听the听executives听analyzed听with听harsh听鈥渨inner take all鈥�听styles听ultimately听diminished听their firm鈥檚 financial performance听and听lagged behind听in听every single performance dimension. As the authors state,听鈥�A key takeaway is that soft values drive hard results. […]听The executives most likely to deliver good bottom–line results are actually听self-aware leaders who are especially good at working with individuals and in teams鈥�.
Discover the Guide to the main types of leaders, which one are you?
Self-aware leaders are better听prepared听to lead others听
The听journey听to better self-awareness听can take numerous pathways,听but听it always starts with a process of introspection听says听Prof. Alberto Ribera of 滨贰厂贰鈥檚 Managing People in Organization. 鈥�We could summarize听the most important听leadership as听鈥榢now thyself.鈥�听Executives听who are self-aware are able to lead others precisely because they have done the work of reflecting听on听their听unique strengths and weaknesses,听as well as their听aspirations听in both the short and long term.鈥�听
To this end,听Prof. Ribera听underlines the benefits of听self-assessment evaluations to听boost听our self-understanding. These听include听personality assessments like the revised Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-R),听exercises to evaluate cognitive styles and preferences, and听the听360-degree evaluation, which as its name implies,听collects听feedback from subordinates, colleagues and supervisors.听鈥淲hen done properly and received with humility and a willingness to grow,听360-degree evaluations听can be extremely useful source of insight听to spark听personal and professional growth,鈥� notes Prof. Ribera.听
Good leaders cultivate the growth of their teams听 听
While leadership starts with a deep sense of self-awareness,听its ultimate听success is听defined by听the听ability to guide, mobilize and motivate others. These are all qualities that can be developed, says Prof. Ribera. 鈥淲ithout a doubt, some people possess intrinsic personality traits that can facilitate the path to leadership, but听by and large, leaders are made, not born,鈥� he explains. 鈥�Good leaders are听adept at cultivating a climate of trust听and strongly committed to听the personal and professional growth of their teams,鈥� explains Prof. Ribera.听听
听If you would like to enhance your self-awareness and听grow as a leader,听learn more about听滨贰厂贰鈥檚听听program.听Delivered in a blended format, it will equip you with key听insights to听amplify听your leadership potential and听corporate impact.听听
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