Self-awareness is one of the most crucial qualities in a leader. By enhancing your leaders' self-awareness, you can help them become stronger leaders who handle communication with their team more consciously and cope better with the pressures of leadership. But what can HR do to help leaders develop such a seemingly abstract trait as self-awareness?

Self-awareness is a proven essential quality that boosts self-esteem, self-acceptance, empathy, and the ability to manage stress. The more aware one is of their own behavior and emotions, the better they become at understanding how these affect both themselves and others. Even though self-awareness might sound like a vague concept, it has a significant impact on a leader's performance.

Developing self-awareness is, therefore, vital, especially for leaders who may not meet their employer's expectations, or who experience stress or communication issues in their roles.

But can you really develop someone else's self-awareness? What can HR do to strengthen this trait in the company's leaders? There are several ways, and here are some suggestions:

1. Coaching

Personal coaching is the most obvious and direct approach to enhancing something as personal and individual as self-awareness. Coaching should be the foundation for this development, while the other suggestions on this list can be seen as complementary. A good coach can help the leader map out their own behavior and emotions, and train them in 'self-monitoring.' By learning to see oneself from an external perspective, one gains a better understanding of how they influence others and themselves. The coach can also assist the leader in developing an action plan to reach their full potential.

2. Self-Reflection

In addition to the self-reflection that occurs during coaching, leaders should also be encouraged to explore various ways of getting to know themselves better. Self-reflection can occur through daily or weekly self-assessments, such as jotting down thoughts on how the day/week went and what they would do differently the next day/week. Regular conversations with a superior or mentor can also stimulate self-reflection. The same applies to courses, studies, and reading that can spark new thoughts and insights. Discuss with the leader what kind of input and output might lead to positive development.

3. Meditation and Exercise

Meditation and physical activity contribute to improved mental and physical well-being, allowing for clearer thinking and inner calm. These practices can be especially helpful for leaders experiencing stress, making it difficult for them to see themselves from an external perspective. Through meditation and exercise, they can bring order to the 'chaos' within, which strengthens their ability to concentrate. This, in turn, enhances self-awareness, particularly in stressful situations.

4. Ensure Honest Feedback

Self-awareness is, of course, about oneself, but it's almost impossible to develop it without feedback from others and the ability to listen to what others have to say. Provide the leader with opportunities to receive honest and candid feedback from team members or other leaders who can deliver truths that may sting but are constructive and enlightening. Make it clear to all parties that the purpose is genuinely to help the leader develop. Honest feedback can become a potent tool, especially when the leader is guided in transforming it into new behavioral patterns.

5. Open Up New Perspectives

Self-awareness creates openness, and openness fosters self-awareness. Stepping outside one's comfort zone and opening up to new perspectives is highly instructive, especially for a leader. It could involve meeting people they don't typically encounter, delving into new subject areas or competencies they haven't explored before, visiting unfamiliar environments, and so on. Tangibly, this could mean taking a new course, going on an unusual business trip, having lunch meetings with individuals they don't usually interact with in their work, and so forth.

Broadening horizons by trying new things is not only educational and exciting in its own right, but it's also an excellent way for a leader to get to know themselves.