Nick Roud Coaching
Self-Awareness. What Does It Mean?
The very best leaders lead, continue to invest and work on their self-awareness. Why strikes me isn’t their grand titles or roles. It’s they are no different to you or me – what sets them apart is they never settle!
This article continues to be the #1 need from my clients and has been written by Nick Roud, representing views from Nick Roud Coaching. All rights reserved (not for AI Training).
Self-awareness. What do those two words mean to you?
So are there benefits to being ‘self-aware’ and if so how might that enable you in your leadership position.
When was the last time you took a deep breath and looked deep into the mirror. This isn’t a morning routine when cleaning your teeth or putting your makeup on. Im saying time out to pause and look deep into the eyes which stare back at you.
I was born with a condition called ‘boss-eyed’ for those who are not familiar with this its simply where both my eyes look into my nose, a squint. At a very young age I was taken up to Sutton Eye Hospital in the UK, to undertake a number of eye surgeries to help straighten them. I cannot recall how many surgeries I had but I’d say it was at least 5. Today I still have a lazy eye and when I am tired my left eye will roll in.
The purpose of sharing that with you in this article titled Self Awareness is to encourage you to connect inwards to yourself and whilst none of us are perfect in order to be self aware it helps if we are aware.
In 2025 I have been personally developing on a few key aspects that I believe will unlock a couple of key things. Firstly communication, bring my voice up and out and not hiding my thoughts deep within. As we roll into September I am proud of the little steps taking on this.
The second one involves connection, and to me this is ‘holding eye-contact’. As I reflect back to being a kid I would never look anyone in the eye, I’d turn side on, look at different objects or move myself around. Never feeling comfortable looking directly into the other persons eyes. This wasn’t because I was trying to be rude it was simply I would always see the other person looking over his/her shoulder to see what I was looking at or say to me with a pointed finger what’s wrong with your eyes………….., When I went for eye tests I was in tears cause I could never get the bunny rabbit into the hutch. Being boss eyed means you can’t see at the same time out of both eyes. At school I was teased or better put ‘bullied’ called boss eyed dick, so as this bullying continued on my outlet was not to hold or look people in the eye. Just look away or most often down at the ground. Never the less in later life it sure did help my rugby and as a half back (number 9), I could confuse the hell out of the opposition, they would look at me looking else where, they would immediately think I was going that way and yep I would go the other way………..………you see what comes around goes around. Who’s the boss eyed dick now 🙂
Whilst I know that early on in my coaching interactions or meeting people for the first time I make a determined effort to hold eye contact and if it is raised then brining my voice to the situation. As I write todays blog to me that feels like a double tick on my 2025 work ons, bringing voice and holding eye contact…..
You see if we are not self aware how can we possible look at little improvements? What might be holding us back from something words can say.
In my 1:1 coaching part of our terms of business is ‘nothing off the table’. Many leaders who I coach are not here to fix things, they are here to work on those little one percenters, the little things that may be sitting quietly in the corner of the room, you know the ones, the ones that you can see and possibly others can see them. Elite leaders want to bring those corner room thoughts into the middle of the room, shine a bright light on them and get to work on them.
Tiger Woods would never have gotten to be the greatest of all time (GOAT) if he and his coach didn’t pull out the club which he needed to get stronger with, nor would he have risen to the lofty heights without working on the little one percenters.
Elite CEOs, Senior executives and emerging leaders can all rise and be better. Not by working on the things they don’t want to work on and have not interest in (all be it that is another article to come) they do this by being self aware. Our leadership assessments are like a little mirror you hold in your pocket, they unlock the little one percenters that will positively shape you as a leader.
And as we wrap up today’s leadership blog you are never to old to start. I have been coaching a 68 year old board member recently and she said to me Nick I wish I had done this work 40 years ago………….
Over the past few months I have been coaching an emerging leader. Last year he went for an internal promotion that would see his part of the Executive Leadership Team (ELT). He missed out , not because he wasn’t technically great at what he does (he is one of the best in the country), it was his people leadership. He was not self aware nor aware of the impact he was having on those in the office. The feedback he received a few weeks post his internal interview was, your external customers love you but those you lead can’t stand being around you. That is why you are not being promoted into the ELT team.
Simple and effective feedback sometimes cuts the deepest.
A few months past and along with his HR team engaged with me. My first question was are you coachable……..Without a blink of the eye yes Nick, I am ready. So together we confidentially discussed a number of things and I got him to undertake a couple of my leadership assessments. The mirror for this client didn’t need to be held up, he knew after completing his Roud Leadership Assessment 360 (RLA360) and answering my questions the penny drop loud and clear. He called me that night and said I get it Nick, I understand what is holding me back. And so we got into his coaching work. As for the promotion well only time and his people will determine that. He is now more self aware, he is working on his strengths and laying pathways to his blind spots. I asked him over lunch – hey if you hadn’t missed out on the promotion would you be working with me. Yes came the reply, why, because we should never stop learning Nick……….
How refreshing. Self Awareness, are you?
To learn more yourself what are your strengths and blind spots? reach out to Nick on +6421375630