Self-Awareness and Empathy
Four months have gone by for the year already! WHATTTT??? Where is the time going? 2024 is already a trip y'all! But I digress.
Let’s unpack self-awareness and empathy—two important aspects of heart-centered leadership. Picture this: you're navigating your leadership path, making decisions, and leading teams. Now, imagine having this superpower where you're acutely aware of your strengths, weaknesses, and, let's be honest, those quirky bits that make you, well, you.
That's self-awareness!
It's like having this internal mirror that reflects not just how you see yourself but how your actions and emotions ripple out to those around you.
For me, investing in personal development wasn't just a nice-to-have; it was essential. As someone committed to my personal growth since my 20’s, it was about peeling back the layers, confronting the comfortable and the uncomfortable, and really getting to know the person steering the ship—me. This journey of self-discovery did wonders.
It amplified my self-awareness, making me more attuned to my emotional responses, triggers, and how I connect with others.
This amplified self-awareness didn't just sit there; it transformed how I approach leadership elevation coaching. Because here's the thing: when you deeply understand your own journey, you're better equipped to help others navigate theirs.
It's like being a guide who's walked the path, knows where the tricky spots are, and can shine a light for others to find their way. Hence, why I became the Brilliance Unveiler 😊
This process of self-reflection and growth allows me to connect with my clients on a whole different level. It's not about giving textbook answers but sharing insights from a place of genuine understanding and experience. It's about showing that leadership isn't just about leading others but leading oneself first.
Self-aware leaders are more empathetic, can adapt their style to meet their team's needs, and create a culture of openness and trust. They're not afraid to show vulnerability, acknowledging that they're a work in progress, just like everyone else.
So, let’s pivot to empathy.
Empathy is the foundation upon which emotional intelligence is built.
And I'm not talking about the "Oh, I feel for you" kind of empathy that's fleeting and forgettable.
I'm talking about the deep, genuine connection that changes the game in leadership. In my book, "It's Your Time to Shine, Girl," I dedicate a whole section to why empathy is, without a doubt, a leadership superpower for women.
Why? Because it's that important.
Empathy is the ability to step into someone else's shoes, to understand their feelings and perspectives, and to use that understanding to guide our actions.
This is essential in leadership. It allows us to connect with our team members, not as cogs in a machine but as human beings with emotions, challenges, and aspirations.
But why emphasize empathy as a superpower for women in leadership? Because, in many ways, it goes against the grain of traditional, command-and-control leadership models we’ve been conditioned to accept as “the norm.”
It's about leading with compassion, understanding, and emotional attunement. And let's be real, the world could use more of that.
Empathy in leadership isn't soft.It's about being strong enough to show you care, to listen actively, and to foster an environment where everyone feels seen and heard.
This is how you build trust, loyalty, and a culture where people are motivated to give their best. It's about creating a space where vulnerability is not seen as a weakness but as a strength.
Empathy can transform your leadership approach, making it more inclusive, adaptive, and impactful. It's about leveraging that emotional intelligence to not just achieve goals but to enrich and uplift those around you.
Empathy is accessible to anyone willing to open their heart and mind to truly connect with others. It's a skill, a choice, and a practice. And with it comes setting healthy boundaries with others, because empathetic women tend to give to others more than they give back to themselves. #realtalk!
In fact, this is the card I pulled from my She Shines Affirmation Card Deck today, “I set, express, and honor my boundaries.” (Yes, I pull cards from my deck routinely, and clip them on a stand so I can see them while I work on my laptop! Walking my talk!))
I encourage you today to dive deeper into empathy as a leadership superpower and learn how it can transform your approach. As a leadership coach, I’m here if you need support cultivating these traits so you can lead more authentically and with powerful emotional intelligence!
To your continued unveiling!
Natalie
The Brilliance Unveiler
Register for my Women’s Catalyst Circle: Visibility Unveiled—Stepping Up and Standing Out in Your Arena
My next WCC event will be held on May 21st at the Maryland Innovation Center, and it will be about—visibility!!
The event titled Visibility Unveiled: Stepping Up and Standing Out in Your Arena is going to be about how we harness our platforms, perspectives, and privileges to ignite change in our spheres of influence.
Register today for May’s WCC and sign up for a very special experience.
As "The Brilliance Unveiler," Natalie Jobity leverages more than fifteen years of experience empowering hundreds of women as an image consultant and now as a leadership elevation coach & personal brand strategist of The Unveiled Way. She empowers heart-centered, high-achieving women seeking to make their divinely designed impact, to operate in their brilliance so they are positioned to lead authentically and unapologetically in their arena.
Natalie Jobity is an ICF-certified coach, bestselling author, mentor, speaker, and facilitator who recently published her second book titled, It’s Your Time to Shine, Girl: Own Your Brilliance, Step into Your Influence, and Lead Like a Trailblazer. This leadership development and empowerment book and her She Shines Affirmation card deck, will inspire women the world over to step into their purpose, and also give them the tips, tools, and techniques needed to succeed and thrive as a woman of influence.
Visit Natalie’s website to learn more about how she partners with purpose-driven women to propel them forward so their impact and influence increase. Discover your leadership posture and style by taking Natalie’s popular assessment, LeadHer Way Brand Identity Assessment.