Leading with Self-Awareness

Are you going home from work energized or totally wiped out?

Great leaders set the standard for the rest of their team. The ones we love are typically self-aware and find joy in the work they do! What about you?

Energized? How about the rest of your team?

Ready to crash? What if I told you we could improve that?

If you are thinking, “it is what it is” or “this is dumb” – you’re wrong. I have said those things too, and I didn’t know there was a better way – until I had a breakthrough and became more self-aware of my entire life. If you’re striving for work-life balance, I want to stop you right there. That’s never going to happen. Your life is much bigger than work – your family, health, finances, spiritual life, and work are just a few pieces of your life. Work is just a piece of your life; you cannot balance one against the other.

Healthy workplaces lead to healthy families and healthy communities. Become more aware of how one place is impacting the other. When it’s time to go home at the end of the workday, there should be enough energy to be present with loved ones. If there is constant exhaustion, need to shut off, or short tempers, there is a big issue… a ticking time bomb!

According to a Talker Research for MD Live survey, 58% of people say that feeling tired often prevents them from enjoying life. Avoiding social interactions and canceling plans with friends and family are some early indicators of fatigue.

When there’s a lack of self-awareness, it can be easy to miss how workplace exhaustion impacts life beyond work. The more aware we are of how we’re showing up, the more intentional we can be in how we lead others and manage our energy.

So, how can you help restore energy and create a more positive and unified workplace?

Here are two key actions that can be taken:

• Build relationships

• Cultivate trust

BUILD RELATIONSHIPS

Humans. Weird, quirky, particular, and sometimes unpredictable. When we can take a step back, appreciate the people around us and our differences, then we have a fighting chance at a healthy relationship.

No one wants to be in a relationship that feels like a transaction. In the workplace, especially for ambitious and driven people, it’s difficult to take the time for mindfulness or a good pause before we respond.

TIP: On your way home or before you leave your home office, try the 4-7-8 breathing methods by Dr. Andrew Weil.

Breathing Technique: “4-7-8” Calm Reset

This helps shift from stress mode (sympathetic nervous system) into relaxation (parasympathetic). It’s grounding and energizing in a soft, replenishing way.

How to do it:

• Inhale through the nose for 4 seconds

• Hold the breath for 7 seconds

• Exhale slowly through the mouth for 8 seconds

• Repeat 3-4 times

Let the exhale be like a soft sigh—no forcing, just letting go.

CULTIVATE TRUST

How do we even begin to cultivate trust? Trust begins with understanding. When there is curiosity and questions being asked to try and understand where another person is coming from, it goes a long way. Those open-ended questions (Who, What, When, Where, How) lead us to a deeper level of respect with others. Respect is earned through those questions. Next, we get to a place of value for one another. The more interest taken in a person, the more they feel understood, respected, and valued. And guess what? You then earn trust.

TIP: Stop making assumptions about situations when you can ask questions! Ask questions that start with who, what, when, where, or how. This helps you move toward a place of understanding so that people are more likely to share the truth with you.

Trust is very fragile. Taking good care of a trusted relationship is essential to keep things moving forward. Trust can only be broken so many times before it is no longer repairable. It’s important to handle it with care.

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Ready to Take the Next Step in Leading with Self-Awareness?

Great leadership starts with knowing yourself—and taking care of yourself. If you're feeling drained or disconnected, you're not alone. The good news? You don’t have to figure it out on your own. We have resources to help move you in the right direction.

👉 Read our blog on how to Prevent Burnout by Prioritizing Rest

Get practical tips to recharge and reset so you can lead with clarity and energy. Read the blog →

📥 Download our free resource: Prevent Burnout by Prioritizing Rest

Visit our Resources Page and scroll to the “Freebies” section to grab your copy—and check out all the other tools we’ve created to support you and your team.

You don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to be a strong leader.

Let’s build healthy habits that help you lead well and live well.