theceomagazine.com | 17Caroline Naguib, a serial entrepreneur and
co-founder of Infomatrix PR, advocates for leaders
prioritising alone time in favour of non-essential
meetings. This helps us gather our thoughts and
gain clarity, reducing the likelihood of impulsive
decision-making. Making a small daily or weekly
change, for instance, or scheduling an hour in the
diary for self-development, can make the difference
between success or failure in the long run.
Because self-awareness can reduce unnecessary
conflict, give you greater insight into your own
productivity and performance, reduce impulsivity,
and cultivate positive working relationships,
developing it is imperative.
HOW TO BUILD AWARENESS
Journal Write down your thoughts daily
and reflect on them. What specific situations
make you feel the way you do? Write about
the positives, as well as what made you angry,
defensive, frustrated or sad. These insights can be
incredibly useful in cultivating your self-awareness.
Healthy behaviours Develop a list of
changes you can make in relation to entries
in your journal. Reflect on how you can
better respond next time.
Be still How do you feel? Note what
emotions come up. Identify them and
write them down. What are they telling you?
Are you restless or bored, for example? Are you
completely relaxed or do you feel worn out?
Be mindful Mindfulness helps us become
more aware of our thoughts and bodily
responses and allows us to hit pause on
our reactions, giving us time to think of healthier
responses, rather than emotional reactions.
Seek feedback Ask trusted sources to
provide you with polite, honest feedback
on how they see you in your role. This
feedback loop will bring in greater awareness of
your blind spots.
Self-reflection | INSPIRE