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Understanding Your Leadership Strengths
The Power of Self-Reflection
Sally Grisedale
August 22, 2025
Photo by Laurenz Kleinheideron Unsplash
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Today, in 5 Minutes or Less ⏱️
You'll learn how to clarify your leadership motivations, identify your unique strengths, and use them to articulate your career achievements in a powerful way.
Did You Know 🔎
According to a Harvard Business Review study 95% of people think they're self-aware, but only 10–15% truly are. This gap highlights the critical importance of self-reflection in leadership, as what you believe about your own strengths may not align with reality. The Harvard Business Review published an article citing research that found self-aware leaders receive more promotions, get more positive performance reviews, and are more effective at managing teams.
Building Resilience Through Self-Reflection
For creative leaders in tech, self-reflection isn't a soft skill—it's the engine of your resilience. It's the deliberate practice of stepping back to analyze your experiences, decisions, and emotions. By truly understanding the "why" behind your leadership—your core motivations, values, and strengths—you build the confidence to navigate the inevitable challenges of your career.
This introspection is what allows you to lead with genuine authenticity and inspire trust from your teams. In a field that demands constant innovation, knowing your unique value and being able to communicate it effectively is the difference between leading and simply managing. As a Gallup study of 1.2 million employees found, teams with managers who leaned into their strengths saw a 12.5% increase in productivity and a 15% reduction in turnover—a clear signal that your inner work directly impacts your team's success.
“To me, a leader is someone who holds her or himself accountable for finding potential in people and processes.”
The Path to Becoming an Even Better Leader
/The journey to becoming a better leader through self-reflection involves several key steps. Here are a few I have found most useful:
Assess Your "Why” ⁉️
The first step toward becoming a truly authentic leader is a deep dive into your own motivation. Ask yourself: What is my "why"? Is your energy fueled by building human connection and fostering community (Social Person)? By the excitement of brainstorming and innovation (Ideas Person)? By the satisfaction of creating clarity and efficiency (Systems Person)? Or by the joy of empowering your team to reach their full potential (Supportive Energy Person)? Understanding the answer to this question is the foundation for a more purposeful and impactful leadership journey.
Identify Your Strengths 💪🏽
Ready to stop guessing and start leading with confidence? The key is to know where you naturally excel. I recommend the Gallup Strengths Based Leadership Assessment to identify your unique talents within the four leadership pillars of Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, and Strategic Thinking. Once you know where your greatest strengths lie, you can leverage them to drive better results and build stronger teams
Connect Strengths to Achievements 🏆
Your value isn't just in what you've done, but in how you did it. When you talk about your achievements, shift from a simple list to a powerful narrative using a framework like the SOAR method (Situation, Obstacle, Action, Result). This allows you to highlight the specific strengths that define your leadership. For instance, rather than just stating you delivered a project on time, you can articulate how your communication skills navigated stakeholder conflicts (Obstacle) or how your strategic thinking led to a critical pivot (Action) that resulted in a better-than-expected outcome (Result). This method transforms a simple accomplishment into a clear and compelling story of your personal impact.
The Short Of It 💥
To position yourself for the top job, you must first know yourself. By understanding what motivates you and what your core strengths are, you can effectively articulate your value to others. The SOAR method is a practical way to connect your natural abilities with your professional achievements, creating a powerful, unique narrative that proves you have what it takes to lead.
That's it for this week!
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With ❤️ from Sally
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