Great leadership requires a level of self-awareness that most never attain. That VP or CEO title doesn't automatically indicate great leadership either, because if it did, most companies would be "great" … and they simply aren't.

Most leaders and companies are average at best. Why?

Because they're operating blindly. They go to work, do their jobs, and go home. Just like their employees. Here's the thing: Growth in leadership rarely occurs at work.

Where Growth As A Leader Actually Happens

After I left the Navy in 2014, I joined a small real estate startup as the first hire. At that time, I'd "led" people … but I wasn't a great leader. As a graduate of the US Naval Academy and former Navy submarine officer, I'd spent time in various leadership positions. So I had some experience.

But the truth is, I really didn't know what I was doing.

It wasn't until I got extremely introspective that things started to change.

I knew that if I wanted to help build a great company, I, myself, needed to become a different kind of leader. I needed to become something I wasn't.

So I became intentional about it. I listened to leadership podcasts, read professional development books, and set big, hairy, audacious goals. I spent real time and effort, outside of work, getting to know myself and building a version of me I hadn't met yet.

That's How You Change

Work is a busy place. Rarely is their time to do anything but … well, work.

The key to becoming a great leader isn't through years of experience in the job. It's in tiny moments of introspection, day after day, on purpose.

Great leaders spend time getting to know themselves. They ask big questions like:

• What are my personal values?

• What is my purpose as a leader?

• Because of my title, what specific duty do I have? And where am I falling short?

• How well do I truly know the people under my charge? How can I get to know them better?

• What are my non-negotiables? And do they line up with my values?

Marching Orders

If you want to start your own journey of introspection as a leader, take the free 3-minute leadership assessment. Your mission starts here.