The Core Principles of Effective Leadership: Coaching, Self-Awareness, and Reflection

“Leadership is not about being in charge. Leadership is about taking care of people in your charge.” 

Simon Sinek / Leaders Eat Last

Any leader’s key focus must be on what makes teams effective. Your leadership needs to do to enable this.
A great starting point is, to be honest with yourself; easy, eh?

We all remember the feeling of dread immediately after the thrill of a promotion.
Your life as a leader sucks; you’re told to crack on, but knowing where to start is the real challenge.

Where do I start?

There are always too many medium posts to read, far too many good books (we leaders always love a “read this” chat), interesting articles, and for the most part, little or no support within your organisation regarding direction.

Knowing your strengths, weaknesses, managing these, and being responsible for a team is a lot to take on, with generally no guard rails. We can help a little: the irony, an article to read.

The concept of leadership has evolved significantly. Gone are the days of authoritative leaders barking orders; today, good leadership is built upon a solid foundation of specific principles that nurture growth, understanding, and effectiveness.  

Your measures of success must be broad enough to allow you to react and apply your focus in the right areas. Once you have experimented with what works, this should drive a framework for your future teams.

Ineffective Leadership 

Leaders need to be more effective in creating performing teams. Ineffective leadership happens when the leaders fail to prioritise development, coaching, self-awareness, and reflection their team’s potential is restricted. This results in ever the buzzword “micromanagement” and a lack of empathy which can squash creativity and discourage team members from taking the initiative. Leaders with these traits need help from their teams to adapt to changing circumstances. 

The best thing you can do is enable your team to feel confident with failure as part of their continual development so that they can stay ahead of the challenges to come. 

Your Leadership Development Journey 

Becoming an effective leader is a continuous journey. Just as athletes don’t stop training after one victory, leaders mustn’t stop looking for ways to improve. Recognising the areas that need improvement is the first step.  

Consider participating in meetups or like-minded communities, reading relevant books, or seeking a good mentor. Surrounding yourself with experienced individuals can provide insights and perspectives you might have yet to consider. Remember, improvement requires trying new approaches and being open to change. 

What can we help with?

We have looked to develop a set of cards based on principles that are a good starting point for any new leader or old one (even experienced leaders get stuck in their heads) looking for a bit of help based on everyday team challenges.

We also added methods which link to the principles, which act as a starting place for a list of things to try.

These are from our experiences and research but based on things that have worked for us.

We have read the books, the blog posts and medium articles - and attempted to put all these clever people’s thoughts into one place so you can experiment and get started quicker.

People-First Culture and Purpose-Driven Leadership 

Building a people-first culture is at the core of effective leadership. It means prioritising the well-being and development of team members. When leaders genuinely care about their team, trust and loyalty follow, resulting in a more motivated employee. 

Being purpose-driven as a leader means aligning actions with a higher mission. Knowing the ‘why’ behind what you do and inspiring your team with a shared purpose. Leaders can rally their teams even in challenging times, as everyone works towards a meaningful goal. 

Some essentials to get you going 

These three essential principles (or skills) to continually develop or exercise are Coaching, Self Awareness, and Reflection.  

These principles play a crucial role in enabling successful leaders. 

Coaching - Guiding Towards Greatness 

Imagine a football team without a coach. Can they navigate the challenges, identify strengths, and fine-tune their performance? In leadership, the idea is similar.  

Coaching isn’t just about giving instructions; it’s about enabling individuals to unlock their potential. Effective leaders step into coaches’ shoes, steering their team members to excel. 

When leaders adopt a coaching approach, they create an environment where learning is valued, and growth is nurtured. Instead of telling their team what to do, they adapt their style or persona to trigger a learning opportunity. This approach encourages creativity and empowers team members to take ownership of their tasks and decisions.  

Self-Awareness - The Key to Relational Intelligence 

Imagine driving a car without mirrors. Self-awareness in leadership is like those mirrors – it provides a clear view of self and your impact on others. Understanding strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and how they affect your interactions. Leaders cultivate self-awareness to develop what’s known as “relational intelligence.” 

Self-awareness enables leaders to communicate effectively, empathise with team members, and make informed decisions. It helps them recognise when stress or biases might influence their judgment.

Leaders who possess self-awareness are more open to feedback, as they understand that development comes from acknowledging the skills that need improvement. This ability to reflect inwardly and assess actions sets successful leaders apart. 

Reflection - Paving the Path to Continuous Improvement 

In a world where everything feels on fire, to pause and reflect seems counterintuitive. However, effective leaders understand that reflection is vital to their development. Reflection is like a north star that guides leaders towards better decisions and strategies. 

Reflection allows leaders to assess their actions, strategies, and outcomes and accept failures as valuable learning experiences. Through reflection, leaders can identify what works and what needs adjustment. 

It’s not about mulling over the past but extracting insights to improve for next time. Leaders demonstrate their commitment to constant improvement by setting aside time for reflection.