Self-Awareness is a Superpower - But Not a Soft One

I often hear self-awareness described as a ‘soft skill’. But the truth? It’s anything but.

Harvard Business Review puts it best: 'Self-awareness is the single biggest predictor of leadership success.'

Think about that. Not strategy. Not intelligence. Not technical expertise. Self-awareness.

And yet, many leaders underestimate its power - until the lack of it derails them.

Take Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter (now X). What could have been a bold reset quickly spiralled into chaos. His impulsive decisions - from sudden mass layoffs to erratic policy changes - were seen as disruptive rather than visionary. Employees lost trust. Advertisers walked away. And the very platform he wanted to elevate faltered.

It wasn’t just the strategy that failed. It was the blind spots. The lack of awareness about how his own behaviour was impacting confidence in the business.

Here’s the truth: without self-awareness, even the smartest leaders stumble. With it, leaders make better decisions, earn trust, and build the kind of alignment that drives real performance.

So, how do you build self-awareness? Start small. Practice daily reflection.

Here’s a simple Leadership Checklist you can use at the end of each day:

• Did I stay true to my values today?

• Did I listen as much as I spoke?

• Did I notice how my words and actions impacted others?

• Did I show up in the way I intended?

• Did I create space for others to contribute?

Like any muscle, self-awareness strengthens with practice. And when you flex it consistently, it becomes the foundation of trust, confidence, and high-performance.

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P.S. Research shows that while most leaders believe they’re self-aware, only 10–15% actually are.

P.P.S. Self-awareness might be invisible on a balance sheet, but its impact is everywhere - in decisions, in culture, in results. Ignore it, and you risk derailment. Build it, and you unlock your true superpower.