Self-Assessment: An Essential Leadership Tool

The older I get, the more I see the foundational importance of self-assessment in the life of every leader. If Socrates was right in saying that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” then I would add that such a person is certainly not worthy of having as a leader. Patrick Lencioni offers some great thoughts related to this subject in his current “Point of View” article entitled “Humbled by Sins of Omission.” He underscores the danger of leaders who are unwilling or unable to see that they may be part of the problem in their organizations. Lencioni focuses on issues related to managing people, but his point is broadly applicable. Please note – I’m emphasizing the importance of self-assessment, but I’m not saying that it is a solo endeavor. Certainly you should examine where you need to improve as a leader and should pay attention to the clues around you. But the best leaders have one or two trusted friends who can point out the positive and negative qualities in the leader’s life. Who is doing that for you?]]>