Self-awareness is the secret weapon of leadership. It is the foundation that allows you to not only lead others but also yourself – with clarity, authenticity, and sustainability. But understanding oneself is not always easy. Just like a mirror, coaching reveals not only your strengths and successes but also the areas where you can grow.

Coaching is about meeting yourself, asking powerful questions, and exploring new perspectives. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) describes self-awareness as one of the cornerstones of effective coaching, and this is no coincidence. The more you understand yourself, the better you can manage both your own reactions and the relationships around you.

Self-awareness – the foundation of authentic leadership

According to the ICF, coaching is not just about achieving goals, but also about increasing awareness of who you are and how you operate. As a leader, it is easy to get stuck in the role of problem solver, but the real magic happens when you take the time to reflect:

• What are my strengths and how can I best utilize them?
• How do my values influence my decisions?
• What patterns do I have that might limit me?

Self-awareness not only makes you more aware of your own drivers and challenges – it also creates a deeper understanding of how your leadership impacts others.

Coaching as a mirror – seeing yourself with new eyes

A coach acts as a mirror that reflects back what you might not see yourself. This can involve:

1. Identifying blind spots: Often, we are unaware of how our behaviors affect others. A coach helps you discover these patterns and break them if necessary.
2. Deepening self-awareness: By asking questions that go beneath the surface, coaching helps you understand why you react the way you do in different situations.
3. Building new perspectives: Coaching challenges you to see things from new angles, often leading to insights that can transform your way of leading and making decisions.

Self-leadership – taking responsibility for your own development

As you develop your self-awareness, you become better at self-leadership. It involves taking responsibility for your own thoughts, feelings, and actions – and using them to act consciously rather than reactively.

Here are some questions you can start reflecting on:

• What motivates me to get up and lead every day?
• How do I handle stress and uncertainty?
• How can I become better at leading by example for my team?

Coaching provides you with a structure to work on these questions, while also offering support and challenge to find sustainable solutions.

Why self-awareness is crucial in leadership

Leading others always starts with leading yourself. A team often sees the leader as a role model – and if you are not aware of your own thoughts and feelings, it can create confusion, lack of trust, and frustration. Self-awareness helps you to:

• Communicate more clearly: When you understand your own needs and goals, it becomes easier to set expectations and create shared guidelines.
• Build stronger relationships: By understanding your own reactions, you become more empathetic and better at meeting the needs of others.
• Manage conflicts effectively: Self-awareness allows you to act calmly and objectively, even in stressful situations.

From reflection to action

Coaching is not just a reflective process – it is also a practical tool for turning self-awareness into action. As you get to know yourself better, you also become better at:

• Setting clear goals and working towards them with focus.
• Managing changes and uncertainty with confidence.
• Developing a leadership style that is both effective and sustainable.

Are you ready to meet yourself?

Choosing to work on your self-awareness is an opportunity to pause, look at yourself in the mirror, and ask: "How can I become the best version of myself – as a leader and as a person?"

👉 Do you want to start your journey towards deeper self-awareness and better leadership?
Book a free introductory call with me here that helps you develop the self-awareness needed to grow both professionally and personally. Together, we can explore your strengths, challenges, and opportunities – so you can become the leader you have always wanted to be.

The mirror is ready – the question is, are you?