Top Takeaways Tuesday: Self-Aware Leadership and the Future of Work
The Knowing Self Knowing Others Podcast, Ep 76
Hi KSKOers!
In this episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Jonathan Boone. We explore the importance of continuous self-awareness and purpose-driven leadership in fostering effective teams and sustainable success. Jonathan shares insights on balancing performance with self-awareness, servant leadership, and adapting to the future of work with a human-centred approach.
Take a listen to the episode here:
Here are my top takeaways from our conversation…
1. The Importance of Continuous Self-Awareness: Jonathan emphasises that self-awareness is not a destination but a continuous journey - and I so agree! He explains that self-awareness evolves over time and that being self-aware at different ages brings new insights and challenges. This ongoing process of self-examination helps leaders stay adaptable and grounded as they grow both personally and professionally.
Reflection Question: How has your self-awareness evolved over the years, and in what ways has it impacted your leadership style?
2. Balancing Performance with Self-Awareness: Jonathan highlights a common issue in corporate organisations where high performers often lack self-awareness. He argues that while these people may excel in their roles, their lack of self-awareness can lead to less effective leadership. Jonathan suggests that it is more beneficial to have a moderately performing leader with high self-awareness than a top performer who is not self-aware.
Reflection Question: Think of a high performer in your organisation—how does their level of self-awareness affect their interactions with others and the overall team dynamic?
3. The Role of Purpose in Leadership and Organisations: We talk about the critical role of purpose in both personal leadership and organisational success. Jonathan shares an example of a successful company that lost its way because it strayed from its core purpose, leading to its eventual downfall. He talks about the importance of staying aligned with one's purpose to maintain focus and drive sustainable success.
Reflection Question: How clearly defined is your personal and organisational purpose, and how do you ensure that your team aligns with these purposes?
4. Servant Leadership and Understanding Your Team: Jonathan describes his leadership style as service-oriented, emphasising the importance of leading from the bottom up. He believes in understanding the daily challenges of his team and supporting them by getting involved and staying relatable. This approach not only fosters trust but also motivates team members by showing them that their leader is invested in their success.
Reflection Question: How well do you understand the daily challenges faced by your team, and how do you actively support them in overcoming these challenges?
5. Adapting to the Future of Work with a Human-Centred Approach: I asked Jonathan about the impact of emerging trends like AI, flexible working, and hybrid models on the future of work. He stresses the importance of balancing technological advancements with a strong focus on human connections and ethical considerations, which very much aligns with my thoughts on ultra-digitalism and hyper-humanism.
Leaders who embrace these changes while maintaining a commitment to a human-centred approach will likely attract top talent and create better working environments.
Reflection Question: In what ways can you incorporate both technological innovation and human-centred practices to enhance your team’s work experience and well-being?
These takeaways and reflection questions are designed to help you think deeply about your practice and the impact you have on their team and organisation.
What can you do next?
Pick one of the top takeaways
Share it with you team
Ask for their thoughts and views.
Reflect, discuss and debate. Agree, disagree, make a plan!
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 top takeaways generate interesting and awareness raising discussions!
It’s amazing how holistic our approach to leadership needs to be, and this interview really brings that out. From self to others to the organization, leaders seek alignment and constantly assess and adjust to maintain it.