Over the past week, we’ve explored key concepts from Tasha Eurich’s “Insight,” examining how self-awareness can transform your approach to municipal leadership. We’ve delved into internal and external self-awareness, and how these skills contribute to work-life integration. Today, in our final post of this series, we’ll synthesize these insights and create an action plan for implementation that encompasses all aspects of our ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework: Awareness, Balance, and Cultivation.
Key Insights Recap
Internal Self-Awareness: Understanding your values, reactions, and impact on others.
External Self-Awareness: Recognizing how others perceive you and your actions.
The Power of “What” Questions: Focusing on “what” rather than “why” for clearer insights.
Balancing Work and Life: Using self-awareness to achieve better work-life integration.
Implementation Roadmap for City Managers
1. Cultivate Daily Self-Reflection (Awareness)
Action: Implement a daily journaling practice. Spend 10 minutes at the end of each workday reflecting on decisions made, reactions observed, and alignment with personal and city values.
Benefit: Increased clarity in decision-making and stronger alignment with core values.
2. Establish a Feedback Loop (Awareness & Cultivation)
Action: Set up regular 360-degree feedback sessions with council members, department heads, and key community stakeholders. Consider working with an executive coach for unbiased insights.
Benefit: Enhanced understanding of your leadership impact and improved stakeholder relationships.
3. Practice Mindful Leadership (Balance)
Action: Incorporate mindfulness techniques into your daily routine. Start with a 5-minute meditation before important meetings or decisions.
Benefit: Improved focus, reduced stress, and more thoughtful responses to challenges.
4. Implement Time Blocking (Balance)
Action: Use time blocking in your calendar to designate specific times for deep work, meetings, personal time, and unexpected issues. Communicate these boundaries to your team.
Benefit: Better work-life integration and increased productivity.
5. Foster a Culture of Self-Awareness (Cultivation)
Action: In meetings and one-on-ones, practice using “what” questions. For example, “What can we learn from this situation?” or “What would make this project more successful?”
Benefit: More constructive dialogues and innovative problem-solving.
7. Regular Energy Audits (Balance)
Action: Conduct weekly energy audits. Identify activities that energize you and those that drain you. Adjust your schedule and delegation strategies accordingly.
Benefit: Optimized personal energy management and increased overall effectiveness.
Measuring Success
To ensure these practices are making a difference:
Self-Assessment: Regularly assess your progress using self-awareness measurement tools. Consider retaking assessments every six months to track growth.
Stakeholder Surveys: Conduct periodic surveys to gauge improvements in leadership effectiveness and organizational culture. Pay attention to trends over time.
Key Performance Indicators: Monitor relevant KPIs such as employee engagement, project completion rates, and public satisfaction scores. Look for correlations between your self-awareness practices and these metrics.
Personal Well-being Metrics: Track your own stress levels, job satisfaction, and work-life integration. These personal metrics can be powerful indicators of your growth in self-awareness.
Overcoming Challenges
Implementing these practices won’t always be smooth sailing. You may face resistance from others, or struggle with consistency yourself. Remember:
Start Small: Don’t try to implement everything at once. Choose one or two practices to focus on initially.
Be Patient: Self-awareness is a skill that develops over time. Celebrate small wins and view setbacks as learning opportunities.
Stay Committed: The demands of municipal leadership can easily push personal development to the backburner. Schedule regular check-ins with yourself or an accountability partner to stay on track.
Conclusion
Implementing these insights from Tasha Eurich’s “Insight” within our ABCs of Impactful Leadership framework can truly transform your approach to municipal leadership. By enhancing your self-awareness, you’ll not only become a more effective leader but also cultivate a more responsive, balanced, and impactful city government.
Remember, this is an ongoing journey. Be patient with yourself, celebrate progress, and remain committed to continuous growth and learning. Your increased self-awareness will not only benefit you but will ripple out to positively impact your team, your organization, and ultimately, the entire community you serve.
As we conclude this series, I’m eager to hear your thoughts. Which of these practices do you plan to implement first? What challenges do you anticipate, and how do you plan to overcome them? Share your reflections and plans in the comments on my LinkedIn page. Your insights could be invaluable to fellow municipal leaders embarking on their own self-awareness journeys.
Thank you for joining me on this exploration of self-awareness in municipal leadership. Here’s to your continued growth and impact!
Seth Winterhalter is President of HaltingWinter Municipal Solutions, dedicated to making stronger cities through stronger leaders. Through executive coaching, consulting, and the Municipal Leadership Development Circle (MLDC), HaltingWinter helps city managers and municipal leaders transform their leadership impact and their organizational culture.
