If we ask ourselves, what distinguishes a truly effective leader? We will find the answer in two fundamental competencies becoming increasingly relevant: self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership.
These skills, pillars of emotional intelligence, are essential for managing stress and emotions in leadership. They allow leaders to navigate challenging and dynamic business environments successfully.
Now, how can I develop these skills to enhance my leadership? You might be wondering.
To support you in this process, we at ifeel have designed a handbook on emotional intelligence for leaders, enabling you to transform your leadership and benefit your entire organisation. Download it for free!
The importance of self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership
Self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership are more than just theoretical concepts; they are practical tools that enable leaders to understand and manage their own emotions and those of their teams.
These competencies are fundamental to developing a style of leadership based on emotion, which, according to Daniel Goleman, an expert in emotional intelligence, is essential to inspire and motivate teams effectively.
| Competency | Definition | Benefits for Leadership |
|---|---|---|
| Self-awareness | Ability to recognise and understand one’s own emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. | – Improves decision-making – Increases authenticity in leadership – Facilitates continuous personal development |
| Self-regulation | Ability to control or redirect behaviour and moods. | – Improves stress management – Increases adaptability in changing situations – Promotes a more positive work environment |
On the one hand, self-awareness implies the ability to recognise and understand our emotions, strengths, weaknesses, values, and motivations. Self-regulation refers to the ability to control or redirect one’s behaviour and moods and the ability to think before acting.
For this reason, it is not difficult to conclude that enhancing these skills together will allow you to strengthen the foundation of emotionally intelligent and effective leadership.
Benefits of self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership and organisations
The implementation of self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership brings numerous benefits for both leaders and organisations:
1. Improvement in decision-making: Self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership are able to make more balanced decisions, integrating rational analysis and emotional understanding.
2. Increased resilience: These skills enable leaders to better manage the stress and pressures of the work environment, which is crucial for making effective decisions under pressure.
3. Creating a positive work environment: Emotionally intelligent leaders foster a culture of open communication and respect, improving collaboration and trust in the team. Research shows that leaders’ emotional intelligence significantly affects the retention intention of their direct reports.
4. Greater talent retention: Enterprises prioritizing self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership experience lower staff turnover and increased employee commitment.
5. Optimisation of the work environment: Self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership create an environment where employees feel valued and understood, reinforcing the work culture and promoting greater participation.
Strategies for developing self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership
To cultivate these essential skills, leaders can implement the following strategies:
1. Emotional self-awareness log:
This technique consists of keeping a diary in which the emotions experienced during the working day are recorded, evaluating the situations that triggered them and how they were handled. This practice helps to gain clarity about emotional patterns and identify areas for improvement.
2. Practise self-control:
Applying techniques such as deep breathing or mindfulness before responding in emotionally intense situations can help you stay calm and respond more rationally.
3. Develop empathy:
Create empathy maps for each team member, exploring their emotions, thoughts, and motivations. This practice improves understanding of the team’s needs and fosters more empathetic leadership.
4. Goal setting and reflection:
Define clear and achievable goals, apply the definition of SMART goals, and reflect weekly on achievements and their impact on internal motivation. Also, always remember to celebrate successes and provide positive feedback to yourself and your team members, reinforcing self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership.
5. Authentic communication:
Practise communicating clearly and empathetically with your team, listening actively to their concerns and being honest in your responses. Also practise admitting mistakes with humility and adjusting course when necessary to strengthen trust and authenticity in leadership.
The role of training and professional support
Developing self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership is not a process that happens overnight. It requires a continuous commitment to personal and professional growth. In this sense, training and expert support play a crucial role.
Many organisations recognise the importance of investing in developing these skills. For example, Virginia Grenón Lobato, Global Head of Human Resources Operations at Cabify, an ifeel partner company, highlights:
‘Our value ‘We trust in trust’ is based on several fundamental pillars. At the top, we leaders do everything we can to provide an environment of support, trust and professional development, offering constructive feedback and opportunities for growth.’
This statement underlines the importance of creating an environment that fosters self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership, not only at the individual level, but as an integral part of the work culture.
Practical implementation: Exercises to strengthen self-awareness and self-regulation
To help leaders develop these crucial skills, here are some practical exercises:
1. Daily reflection exercise:
At the end of each day, spend 10 minutes answering the following questions:
- What emotions did I experience today and what triggered them?
- How did I handle these emotions? Am I satisfied with my response?
- What did I learn about myself today?
The answers to these questions can help you reflect on your behaviour and identify areas where you could adjust to align your leadership style with your expectations.
2. Mindfulness practice:
Spend 5-10 minutes every morning practising mindfulness. Focus on your breathing and observe your thoughts without judging them. This practice improves self-regulation and mental clarity.
3. 360° feedback:
Ask your team, colleagues, and superiors for honest feedback on your leadership style. Use this information to identify areas for improvement in your self-awareness and self-regulation.
4. Visualisation exercise:
Before a challenging meeting or situation, take a moment to visualise how you want to handle it. Imagine how you will regulate your emotions and respond effectively.
5. Keep a gratitude journal:
At the end of each week, write down three things you are grateful for in your role as a leader. This practice fosters a positive mindset and improves emotional self-regulation.
The importance of self-awareness and self-regulation in the current context
As the world advances and work environments become more complex, self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership have become more crucial than ever. Organisations face unprecedented challenges, from adapting to new technologies to managing diverse and globally distributed teams.
In this context, leaders who have developed a high level of self-awareness and self-regulation are better equipped to navigate these turbulent waters. They can remain calm in crisis situations, make balanced decisions under pressure, and guide their teams with empathy and vision.
Moreover, in an environment where the mental well-being of employees has become a priority, leaders who practise self-awareness and self-regulation are better positioned to create healthy and sustainable work cultures.
The Leadership Lens🔎
Self-awareness and self-regulation are key tools for any leader who aspires to influence positively and effectively. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses allows you to lead with authenticity and adapt to your team’s changing needs.
Conversely, self-regulation enables you to manage your emotions and reactions to high-stress situations, maintaining calm and clarity in decision-making. By cultivating these skills, you improve your personal effectiveness and inspire your team to develop a greater sense of responsibility and self-control.
Mental health at work, one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today
At ifeel, we know that self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership are not just passing trends, but fundamental competencies that will define the success of leaders and organisations in the future. As the business world becomes more complex and interconnected, the ability of leaders to understand themselves and manage their emotions becomes increasingly crucial.
To support you in this process, at ifeel we have designed a handbook on emotional intelligence for leaders, which will allow you to transform your leadership and benefit your entire organisation. Download it for free!
In addition, our clinical team provides leading companies in their sector with a dynamic, scalable and fully personalised solution, powered by AI. We have a strategy and approach based on key data to help organisations with a global presence address one of the biggest business challenges of our time: mental health at work.
This solution offers employees a mental health care service structured at different levels depending on their needs at any given time. Discover our Resources section where you will find different materials, such as webinars, podcasts, guides for human resources on current topics and interviews with leaders of large organisations.
Data-driven methodology
Our mental health solution for enterprises employs evidence-based practices and innovative methods, backed by the latest research and a network of over 600 mental health professionals. Would you like to know more about our Clinical Research Department? Don’t forget to visit this section to stay informed about the latest studies and research in mental health in corporate environments.
We hope you found this article on self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership interesting.
If you would like more information about the ROI of our personalised mental health solution for enterprises, simply request it here. Our team will calculate the ROI based on your enterprise’s specific characteristics.
