What do you do if you want to boost your self-awareness and emotional intelligence as an entrepreneur?

By engaging in introspective practices such as journaling, individuals can discern patterns in their behavior, recognize emotional triggers, and create strategies for effective management. This reflection develops a deeper understanding of internal dynamics, empowering entrepreneurs to navigate challenges with resilience and empathy, facilitating personal and professional growth.

Daily reflection is easily one of the most overlooked and underrated tools for growth as an entrepreneur. Regular practice helps you generate insights that most people miss by identifying patterns in your thoughts, feelings and reactions to day to day events. Even spending just two minutes, a few times a day, reflecting can actually make a big difference. Think of it like adding small drops of wisdom into your daily routine that could lead to profound changes in your life.

Rather then setting to do’s I like to end the day with ‘to done’s’ - Write down a list of what you did in the day and cross it through. (Sounds silly, but satisfying). - Consider what was planned and what was reactive and why. - What is measurable on the list? Meetings, connects, emails and so on. Now - did you enjoy the day, feel stimulated. Did you make progress. Score your day out of 5. It’s totally subjective but do it for long enough and you start to see trends. Eventually you’ll work out how to make everyday a 5.

Reflecting daily is key for self-awareness. Keep a journal to note thoughts and feelings. Identify patterns and manage emotions better. This practice enhances composure and empathy in facing challenges.

I like to journal. Not about my feelings, but about my identity and goals. Hope journaling. Putting our business goals in context really helps. If we are clear about why we do what we do, how it helps us become the person we want to be, then we feed our reward circuits from many different sources of progress and it helps give our life and our work meaning. It's also a great opportunity to validate how we view ourselves: I've set this goal because I think I want to become X, but I realize I don't really want to become X I want to become Y... action + introspection + vision = know thyself.

Seeking consistant feedback is really powerful to help your career. Seeking feedback from people who you trust and respect is important. Seeking feedback from people who you would trust with business decisions and who have your best interests at heart is even more important. Seeking feedback from those who have walked in your shoes is by far the best feedback and trumps everything.

Don't hesitate to seek feedback from colleagues and mentors. Their insights offer valuable perspectives on your leadership style. Embrace their honest assessments, even if they're challenging. This external viewpoint helps uncover blind spots and offers actionable ways to enhance your emotional intelligence.

Integrate mindfulness into your daily routine through practices like meditation and deep breathing. These techniques foster present-moment awareness, enabling you to stay calm and focused amid distractions. By cultivating mindfulness, you enhance your emotional regulation and respond to challenges with clarity and intention.

Emotional intelligence evolves through continuous learning. Explore resources like books, workshops, and courses to deepen your understanding. Delve into psychological theories to interpret experiences and enhance interactions. Embrace a growth mindset on your journey towards greater emotional intelligence.

I am a huge fan of lifelong learning, evidenced most reciently by starting my MBA at age 50yrs. Understanding human behaviour and people is important knowledge which is best to keep refreshed. Todays work environment is changing and with AI, tomorrows environment will change again. Human behaviours now in the workplace are very different from say 10 years ago and so are the processes to manage and lead people.

Active empathy is crucial for nurturing relationships and fostering a supportive network. Listen attentively to others, validating their emotions and sharing in their experiences. This strengthens trust and enhances your ability to discern emotional cues, vital for emotional intelligence growth.

Adjusting habits is crucial for emotional growth. Reflect on routines that might be counterproductive, like excessive screen time or neglecting self-care. Implement changes gradually, focusing on sustainable habits that promote balance and positivity. Prioritize activities that nourish your mental and emotional health, such as regular exercise, mindfulness practices, and meaningful social connections. Remember, small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being.

Adjusting habits is literally the hardest thing to do on this planet but it’s doable - it can be done - you can do it, go do it, be raw, and stay raw 😃

Understand what your values are and what is feeling misaligned to begin the process of determining what you'd like to learn and improve. A coach and/or therapist is helpful, however the easiest way to start is finding impactful books on specific topics and reading them intentionally (take notes, incorporate learnings, etc.). Having someone help you along the way and guide you is going to speed up the process, but there is no excuse for not learning on your own for free or listening to an audio book while driving etc.

I'm a big believer that every entrepreneur or founder should regularly work with a good psychotherapist as well as a coach. Where a coach can act as a pragmatic sounding board, a good therapist with experience working with entrepreneurs can help you explore and better understand the way you think, make decision, and lead. It offers the opportunity to talk about challenges in a safe and private environment with someone who doesn't have a personal interest or inside knowledge. Finding the right person is critical but I truly believe it's a must have, especially for leaders of high-growth companies.

Be vulnerable. You can't think your way to clarity. Go out there, commit to something, test options, reflect on it and learn. Also, share how you feel, let others see you: they can see parts of you that no mirror can unveil. We need others to cover our blind spot and truly be self-aware. I also encourage you to talk and write.. it really helps to get to the bottom of our thoughts.