EP174: Awareness isn't Fluff. It's Fuel.
LET’S GET REAL…
…awareness is a superpower.
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(The notes below are only a brief bullet point summary of what is discussed in the podcast. Be sure to listen to get all of the goodness! If you would like a full transcription of the episode, please send an email request to: angie@angie-robinson.com. We’d be happy to provide that!)
When it comes to leadership, awareness often gets labeled as a 'soft' skill or something nice to have – something that might make us feel good but isn’t necessarily essential. I’m on a mission to change that perception. To me, self-awareness isn’t fluff. It’s fuel. It’s not just about being zen or endlessly self-reflecting. Awareness is recognizing what’s happening inside you and around you so you can lead on purpose and create the results you want.
I want self-awareness to be seen as a true super skill, on par with financial acumen or strategic planning. It’s the human skill that powers everything else, especially in leadership. It’s about knowing how you show up, how you’re perceived, and what’s driving your behavior in the moment – and then making intentional choices based on that insight.
Why Awareness Matters in Leadership
Awareness helps you notice when your stress is leaking onto your team, when you’re interrupting conversations, or when your story about a situation is driving your decisions. It’s catching yourself before a habit takes hold or before burnout sets in. It’s recognizing why you’re feeling off before things escalate. In short, awareness is the foundation for effective leadership because it enables you to act with intention rather than react impulsively.
In one of my recent coaching sessions, I worked with a leader who received some challenging feedback from their team. The feedback didn’t quite match the leader’s own perception, and it felt heavy and confusing. While building trust and better communication were important, the real work started with awareness – understanding how the leader was being perceived and why the team felt the way they did.
This leader had to process emotions like confusion, frustration, and sadness, but rather than wallowing, we acknowledged them and moved forward. Awareness helped the leader examine whether strengths in one context were actually hindrances in another. That’s the power of awareness – it allows leaders to make small but impactful adjustments, fostering better connections and more effective leadership.
Awareness as Strategy
It’s not just about having awareness; it’s about leveraging it. Awareness itself doesn’t fix things – it guides action. When you skip awareness and jump straight to problem-solving, you risk putting a band-aid on deeper issues. Instead, when awareness drives your strategy, you’re building something sustainable and meaningful.
It’s not enough to react or lead by default. Awareness means leading by design. Whether it’s being aware of how your team prefers to communicate or recognizing when your own stress is affecting your leadership, it’s about making small, thoughtful shifts that align with your purpose and goals.
How to Enhance Your Awareness
You don’t need hours of reflection to cultivate awareness. Sometimes it’s as simple as taking a pause to notice your thoughts and feelings. Using tools like Insights Discovery, asking for feedback, and setting intentional goals for how you want to show up can all increase awareness. It’s about being curious rather than reactive.
Leadership isn’t about always having the answers, but it’s about being open to exploring where you’re at and what’s needed. Awareness isn’t fluff; it’s the fuel that makes you the most impactful leader you can be. It’s the difference between leading with purpose and just going through the motions.
Final Thoughts
I’m inviting you to think differently about awareness. Let’s make it the must-have skill it truly is. Let’s move from reactive to grounded, from scattered to intentional. Awareness isn’t just a leadership add-on – it’s the core. It’s the magic that makes everything else possible.
What Do You Think?
What does awareness look like for you in your leadership?
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