How Authentic Leaders Make A Greater Impact With Self-Awareness

Before my first undercover assignment, I was sent back to the Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy for a series of psychological tests to determine my level of self-awareness. I was disappointed because I expected to learn how to scissor-kick in high heels to take down a guy twice my size. At least, that’s how it’s portrayed in the movies. Alas, not for the first time did I learn that movies are entertainment with a tenuous grasp on reality.

FBI Headquarters understood that self-awareness enables agents to predict their response when confronted with an unexpected situation that can accompany undercover work.

This process taught me I would not be a good candidate for long-term, deep-cover assignments. I fall into the category of over-achiever, and tools like the Enneagram and Myers Briggs personality tests confirmed that I need to be around people because I consistently need to perform. You can’t put a personality like mine into a lonely place and expect them to be happy or productive.

I didn’t know it before, but self-awareness was necessary to become a successful undercover agent.

Leaders in today’s world ask questions like mine: Do I need to become more self-aware to be effective? How will it help me make a greater impact?

Ignorance of your competition makes you vulnerable. Ignorance of yourself makes you stupid — LaRae Quy

Self-knowledge is the first step in developing emotional intelligence. Every aspect of your life requires you to make decisions, and success in today’s world means you’re willing to develop the emotional intelligence to make good decisions that will positively impact yourself and those around you.

Self-awareness makes good decisions easier because it allows you to understand your needs, fears, desires, and habits — everything that makes you tick as a unique human being. It also strengthens your relationship with the most important person in your life — you!

Like it or not, the more you know about yourself, the better and faster you can adapt to the changes that happen in business and life. Change is inevitable, and the better you can handle it, the quicker you’ll land on your feet and move on. Self-awareness is…