Unlocking Self-Awareness: Introducing “Insight” by Tasha Eurich

As city managers and municipal leaders, your ability to lead effectively hinges on the depth of your self-awareness. This week, we’re diving into Tasha Eurich’s groundbreaking book “Insight,” which offers valuable lessons that align with the A-Awareness aspects of my “ABCs of Impactful Leadership” framework.

Many leaders, myself included, have been tempted to believe self-awareness is a practice for young people; after all, we’ve all heard the saying, “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” But that’s the lie that keeps us rooted in stagnation and the repetition of past mistakes. There’s a lot of ego in leadership, and that’s not inherently bad. However, it takes an equal measure of humility to look in the mirror and surround yourself with the right people who can help you see your blind spots and hold you accountable for growth. It’s this growth and the greater impact I know you can have that make me excited to share Eurich’s insights with you.

Key Concepts from “Insight”

Over the next three days, we’ll dive into some of the following key concepts from Tasha’s book and help you apply them to your municipal context:

1. Internal vs. External Self-Awareness: Eurich distinguishes between understanding our own thoughts and feelings (internal) and recognizing how others perceive us (external).
2. The Power of “What” Questions: Instead of asking “why” something happened, Eurich suggests focusing on “what” questions to gain clearer insights.
3. Self-Awareness Archetypes: Eurich identifies four self-awareness archetypes, helping us understand where we stand and how to improve.
4. Mindfulness in Leadership: The book emphasizes the importance of being present and mindful in our daily interactions and decision-making processes.

Connecting “Insight” to the ABCs of Impactful Leadership

• Awareness: Eurich’s work directly supports our focus on self-awareness as a cornerstone of effective leadership.
• Balance: Her insights into mindfulness and self-reflection contribute to achieving better work-life integration.
• Cultivation: By improving our self-awareness, we can better cultivate positive organizational cultures.

Over the next few days, we’ll explore how these concepts can transform your approach to municipal leadership, making you more effective, balanced, and impactful in your role.

Stay tuned for our deep dives into the most relevant insights from “Insight,” and how they apply specifically to your challenges as city managers and municipal leaders. And don’t miss this week’s episode of The HaltingWinter Podcast, where we’ll be exploring the key themes of Eurich’s book and their practical applications in municipal leadership. It’s the perfect companion to our blog series, offering additional perspectives and real-world examples to enhance your learning journey.

I’d love to hear from you: What’s one area of self-awareness you’re most interested in developing as a municipal leader? Share your thoughts in the comments on my LinkedIn page. Your input will help shape our upcoming discussions!

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.