Have you ever asked yourself that question?
I am a pro at recognizing things in other people. I can spot a strength, constraint, annoyance, etc, in someone else quickly. In fact, I would go out on a limb and say I am a black belt in judging others.
Recognizing those things in me...ehh...not so much.
A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting with a guy who works at a university where I do some work. I don't necessarily work closely with him, but have gotten to know him a little bit over the last couple of years.
To get a pulse on who he is tight with, I asked him this question "If you had to drive cross country, San Diego to Maine, which two of those six people would you take with you?"
As he processed, he shared things like "I think he would be good because he has a good mix of talking, but also can sit in silence and be okay." Or "I love him, but I don't think I could ride cross country with him... I might pull out my hair about 12 hours in."
My daughter is a part of a service organization. Several months ago, she had a meeting with four other girls about a service project they were organizing.
I asked her about the girls, and she gave a brief rundown of each girl. For one of them, she said, "...and she can be really annoying."
Two conversations and two examples of other's-awareness.
I asked my friend, "What do you think those guys would say about you when faced with driving cross country with you?"
I asked my daughter, "We all have annoying tendencies, what do you think your friends would say you do that annoys them?"
We are good at noticing others' strengths, constraints, things that irritate us, etc...but we are often not great at recognizing these things in our own lives.
We don't need to be consumed with ourselves, but there is massive value in knowing our strengths, constraints, how we irritate others, etc.
Question to ask a coworker: "We all do something that irritates or annoys others...what do I do that irritates or annoys others?
If you frame it with others, they might be more willing to tell you the truth.
After you get feedback, you will have to weigh how much this annoyance affects your leadership. Because not all annoyances are created equal. Some can really affect...others not so much.
There may be no more important journey for a leader to take than the self-awareness journey.
**FAITH AND LEADERSHIP**
I am going to start doing some writing about faith and leadership. If you'd like to receive weekly or bi-weekly insights into the intersection of faith and leadership, click HERE
Click here to learn about/order my book Upside Down Leadership
Click here to learn about/order my book The Leadership
Five Ways I Can Help:
1 on 1's - A powerful solution to combat the isolation and loneliness that often accompanies leadership. Leading with excellence can be an uphill battle, but you don't have to face it alone. My 1-on-1 coaching is designed to be your trusted thought partner, offering thought-provoking, perspective-enhancing questions that ignite fresh insights and clarity. My mission is the help you gain precision like clarity of your strengths, motives, identity, and energy so that you can be the best version of yourself and a truly exceptional leader for your people. My personalized approach ensures that each session is tailored to meet your specific needs and goals.
Here is a testimony from a 1 on 1 client: "Travis has helped me become a better leader. Travis has helped me organize my thoughts and has given me so much clarity on how to lead on a day-to-day basis. There is no doubt that he is the biggest asset to my leadership and has reenergized my coaching style." Jeff Duncan, Head Baseball Coach, Kent State
360' Leadership Assessment - I have yet to meet an elite leader who isn’t hungry to grow and improve. The problem is when you become a head coach, feedback gets more and more rare. Let Travis take you through a 360’ review that will shine a spotlight on your superpowers (strengths) and also identify ways in which you can get better. This is for high-level leaders with a hunger to continue to improve! Email Travis at travis@kingdomcoachingtw.com to learn more or get started.
Interview Prep - The person who lands to job isn't always to best leader or coach. It is often the leader or coach who is able to articulate their vision, principles, and strategies the best. In order for us to be our best during an interview, we need to prepare. Let us help you get ready so you can land your dream job! Email Travis at travis@kingdomcoachingtw.com to learn more or get started
Speaking - During this transformative experience, I will guide you through the essential principles that lay the foundation for an elite environment in your program. Our approach is entirely interactive, ensuring an engaging and dynamic learning journey for all participants.
The Tribe - What are your pain points? What do you need to do to become a better leader? To create a better environment? Join a group of like-minded coaches who get together (via Zoom) every 2nd and 4th Monday to discuss and work through principles and frameworks to help you become a better leader.
If this email was passed on to you, and you want to subscribe... CLICK HERE!