Revolutionising Leadership Through Self-Awareness: How to Empower Your Team to Drive Results

So many leaders are waiting to be seen. They believe that to be recognised as a leader, someone else needs to tap them on the shoulder or give them the go-ahead. It’s a common belief—but one that holds us back from stepping into our true potential.

As leaders, we are here to challenge beliefs, to see the potential in others, and to create change. It’s about learning to think differently and sharing that mindset with others.

Let me share a story with you about a leader I worked with named Josh...

He was feeling stuck. His team wasn’t performing, and he believed it was their fault. He thought, “If I had a different team, I’d get the results I need.” He was frustrated, feeling like he had no control over the situation. But as we dug deeper, we realised something critical—his approach to leadership needed to change.

Josh works in the building materials industry. He’d been asked to improve his team’s performance, but he felt like they weren’t responding. When we spoke, his frustration was clear—he felt like he was constantly asking for results, but they weren’t there.

As we sat down together and unpacked the situation, I asked him to think about how he was communicating with his team. Josh’s approach was all about telling his team to figure things out on their own. He would say things like, “You should be able to solve this yourself.” But that was exactly the problem.

Josh’s team wasn’t lacking the ability—they were lacking the support and guidance from their leader. His language and attitude were pushing them away instead of pulling them in. Together, we made a simple yet powerful shift in mindset: instead of saying, “You should be solving this,” Josh started saying, “How can we work on this together?”

In one conversation, Josh learned that his team was ready to grow—if he was ready to lead them.

As leaders, we often focus on what’s wrong with our team instead of looking inward at how we can inspire and guide them.

There’s an old saying, “The fish rots from the head.” If we think our team is the problem, we’re ignoring the role our leadership plays in shaping the outcomes.

Research by Dr. Tasha Eurich, an organisational psychologist, found that 95% of people believe they are self-aware, but the actual number is much lower—around 10-15%. This means that most leaders are blind to their own areas of improvement.

To help you practice self-awareness, here are some guide questions to help you gain that clarity:

• How are you communicating with your team? Are you offering solutions or collaborating with them to find answers together?

• When was the last time you challenged your own leadership style or sought feedback from other leaders?

• Are you creating an environment where your team feels supported and empowered to grow, or do they feel isolated and unsure?

The next time you feel stuck, remember that leadership is about more than directing others—it’s about inspiring them, growing with them, and making sure you’re constantly evolving as a leader yourself.

Kath

P.S. Whenever you’re ready, I can help you develop high-performing and supportive teams, find fulfillment in leadership, and create a healthy work-life balance through executive coaching.

To get started, you can book a FREE 30-minute Leadership Success Discovery Session with me.

Every month, I open up my calendar for a handful of leaders to have a 1:1 session with me.

On our call, we dive into actionable strategies to uncover your mindset and leadership gaps and identify your growth opportunities in the next 90 days.

There’s only a limited number of spots, so go check if there are available spaces left 👇

http://inspiringleaders.com.au/book-a-call