The CEO’s Inner Work

If you were to write a list of steps you could take to become a more effective and influential leader, which areas would you choose to focus on? Communication? Motivation? What about self-awareness? Would introspection be somewhere on your list?

Research shows that leaders who are self-aware can significantly increase their teams’ chances of success. How? By having an awareness of who you are, what has shaped you, and how you respond to the vicissitudes of business and people issues, you can tailor your interactions for maximum effect and influence.

The competitive advantage that comes from understanding your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour patterns is enormous. Not only does it increase self-acceptance, it also increases your acceptance of those around you. The more you know and accept yourself, the more open minded and inclusive you can become. You gain awareness of how you are perceived by others, and you can use this to evolve as you grow in your role.

Devika Das, the author of the book The CEO’s Inner Work has coached many C-suite executives over the years, and when it comes to personal development, she finds journaling (asking self-analytical questions) to be one of the most effective tools in her kit.

Common feedback she receive is that self-reflective journaling helps with stress management, mental clarity, and decision making, and the one thing every single client has said is that it has helped them manage people with greater empathy, which in turn has led to an improvement in overall team performance.

It makes perfect sense: once you’ve acknowledged yourself and had the time to reflect on your own inner stories, you can apply the same considerations to others.