Top Takeaways Tuesday: Conscious Leadership, Self-Awareness and Empowering Entrepreneurs
The Knowing Self Knowing Others Podcast, Ep. 63 with Monica Haughey
Hello KSKOers
This week I was joined in episode 63 of The Knowing Self Knowing Others Podcast by the inimitable Monica Haughey, talking about self-aware leadership, conscious living, fears and limiting beliefs, the power of group facilitation and the benefits of journaling. Here are my top takeaways and a few reflection questions for you to pause, ponder, discuss and debate…
1. Importance of Self-Awareness in Leadership: Monica emphasises that knowing oneself is crucial for effective leadership. By knowing the ‘self’, it enables leaders to understand their impact on others and make conscious choices. This aligns with the second layer of my definition of self-aware leadership: ‘recognition of your impact’. This self-awareness also helps leaders to identify their limiting beliefs and fears, meaning they can proactively behave so as to reduce them. It also allows them to lead with authenticity and integrity.
Reflection question: How can you increase your self-awareness to become a more effective leader?
“I see therapy as holding a mirror… if you come to me as a therapist, I having done…. at least 20 years of this work, I have sort of honed it down to actually you're coming to me to meet yourself.”
2. The Power of Peer Support and Networking: Monica highlights the power of peer support and networking as a way to facilitate both personal and professional growth. She said that being part of a supportive coaching group can provide a safe space for people to explore new aspects of themselves and their work. This mutual support and connection with others not only fosters growth but also helps people feel validated and encouraged in their journeys.
Reflection question: In what ways can you seek out or create a supportive network to facilitate your professional growth?
3. Embracing Vulnerability and Mutual Support: Monica talks about the importance of holding space for people emotionally, encouraging vulnerability and using the safety of a group to provide mutual support. This approach creates an environment where people feel safe enough to share and explore their thoughts and emotions, fostering deeper connections and sometimes even uncovering unexpected opportunities for personal growth.
Reflection question: How can you create a safe and supportive environment that encourages vulnerability and mutual support in your organisation?
“Well, I think that curiosity innately is having an open mind and being open to who's in front of you and what they're saying.”
4. Harnessing the Power of Self-Reflection and Journaling: Monica talks about the practice of journaling to build self-awareness, by clearing the conscious mind of niggling thoughts, worries and fears. She emphasises its value in her own life and when working with clients. She highlights the benefits of handwriting in journaling as a means to access one's own truth and thoughts, aiding in self-discovery and self-expression saying it keeps one closer to their own story.
Reflection question: How can you incorporate journaling into your daily routine ?
5. The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Behaviour: We touch on the lasting impact of childhood trauma on adult behaviour and decision making. Monica's insights shed light on the importance of creating a safe space for healing and self-expression, acknowledging the ways in which past experiences can influence current thoughts and actions. As someone with a background in early years (pre-school) and family support talking about the impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on our functioning in adult life was good opportunity to highlight the importance of brain development and nurturing children from the very earliest moments.
Question for reflection: How might unresolved adverse childhood experiences be influencing your thoughts, behaviours, and decision-making in the present, and how can you address these impacts for personal growth and healing?
These top takeaways and reflective questions aim to provide you with actionable insights from our conversation to support you to build your self-aware leadership skills.
How can you use these top takeaways and reflection questions (TTRQ)?
Pick one of the TTRQs
Share it with you team
Ask for their thoughts and views. Reflect, discuss and debate
Get to know your own thoughts better. Help others to know their thoughts better. Get to know each other better.
Share your thoughts here with us on what you’ve discovered and learned.
Hope you enjoy the episode and find that these TTRQs generate interesting and awareness raising discussions!
The necessity of self-awareness to effective leadership comes up again and again and rightly so. Still, it seems to escape so many. We see leadership as outward looking when in fact its entire foundation is the self—values, behaviors, and, yes, awareness. I love your guest’s insights and perspectives. We need others, but it starts with self-work.