By Tarunkumar Singhal, Raman Jokhakar, Chartered Accountants
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The most effective leaders are alike in one crucial way: They all have a high degree of what is known as emotional intelligence. Self-awareness, which is a deep understanding of one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs and drives, is the first component of emotional intelligence.
People with strong self awareness are neither overly critical nor unrealistically hopeful. Rather, they are honest with themselves and with others. People who have a high degree of self-awareness recognize how their feelings affect them, other people, and their job performance.
Someone highly self-aware knows where he is headed and why; so, for example, he will be able to be firm in turning down a job offer that is tempting financially but does not fit with his principles or long-term goals. A person who lacks self-awareness is apt to make decisions that bring on inner turmoil.
“The money looked good so I signed on,” someone might say two years into a job, “but the work means so little to me.” Decisions of self-aware people mesh with their values; so they find work energizing. How can one recognize self-awareness? First, it shows itself as candor and an ability to assess oneself realistically. Such people are able to speak accurately and openly, though not necessarily effusively or confessionally, about their emotions and the impact they have on their work.
(Source: The Economic Times dated 09-11-2012.)
