Bit of a tough one. This isn't just vital for leaders, but for everyone. You can't beat good old self-awareness. A HBR study found 95% of people think they're self-aware, when only about 15% are: a staggering finding.
And it's all perception. Think of it like this. How you're perceived is what you do, what you say and what you think. One of my favourite sayings is: we leak all the time. We may not know it but we're giving ourselves away every minute. Our colleagues, and those we're leading, are getting damp from the drips.
Here’s a more poetic version of the three "whats" above.
“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character.
And watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”
Powerful stuff.
We often ask teams, or groups of leaders, to give each other feedback on their social presence: the visual and visceral messages they send (whether they know it or not). Often you hear sharp intakes of breath as people receive their anonymous feedback on Post Its.
Again, powerful stuff. But well worth it. Try it at your next team meeting, or event. (Oh gosh - I'm thinking back to the 95% who think they're self-aware, many of whom aren't. I do hope I'm not one of them. Am I?)