Crack the Management Paradigm? Awareness and Acceptance

To lead a group of people towards a common goal, it is critical that leaders are highly self-aware.

Before we move on let’s check this out.
"In recent appearances, the 53-year-old Mr. Immelt has said he is "humbler and hungrier" because of the recent credit crisis and recession, which severely damaged GE. He has also defended his record while stressing that he has learned from his mistakes. "I needed to be a better listener coming out of the crisis" -- From Wall Street Journal.
Something like this requires you to be aware of your strengths and limitations and have the stability to accept them.

Most of the times, accepting can be a private affair but if not done limits your growth and that of your business.

To know who you are, you need to take a deep dive in to your inner self. One such tool that enables you to deep dive is meditation.

However, if you are not there, you can make a start by asking some powerful questions about two key aspects: listening and delegating.

You can get inputs from some trusted peers and compare the same with what you believe about yourself. Towards this, you can ask:

1.What more can I seek from others? Do you remember three ideas, issues, challenges that your team members or peers brought to you in the last week. If yes, then it means you are listening or they are probably bringing them to you. Else, ask yourself and others if you are in the “let me tell you mode” or just not present in the moment. You may say this is because you do not have time, which many leaders believe they don’t. Then, you need to ask the next question.

2. What less can I do? Are you saying I have a great team who let allow me to think and scale business? Great!! If yes, then you are delegating and letting your team do their job. If not, check if you are in the “Only I can do it mode”.

Compare your peers’ answers with your own answers.

Now, accepting feedback or shifting your beliefs about self can be a spine-stiffening experience.

To assess and accept feedback, you need to either be very strong, logical, weather toughened or you need to be very deeply stable, aware, and stress free.

You can choose to walk this path either on your own or take the help of a coach. A coach can guide you to tap your own strengths and resources without being judgmental.