Hello and welcome to the first episode of The Knowing Self Knowing Other’s Podcast in 2024! Join me in conversation with Anna Zannides….
The Importance of Self-awareness in Leadership: According to Anna, being mindful of one’s internal world and responses to external triggers is essential for understanding and managing oneself as a leader. Self-awareness helps leaders avoid toxic work environments and fosters more effective leadership.
Reflection question: How can you enhance your self-awareness to create a healthier work environment for yourself and your team?
Mindfulness for introspection and self-awareness: Anna emphasises the power of mindfulness in facilitating introspection and self-awareness. She explains that mindfulness enables people to understand their internal world and their reactions to external stimuli, ultimately leading to a deeper level of self-awareness.
Reflection question: In what ways can you incorporate mindfulness practices into your daily routine to cultivate your self-awareness? (also take a listen to the episode with Reiner Kraft for more ideas)
Challenging Societal Norms: Our conversation reflected on the challenges women face in expressing themselves authentically, especially in leadership roles. Anna highlights the difficulties in navigating societal norms and ego when striving for genuine expression, sparking an insightful discussion about the impact of these challenges of us
Reflection question: How can you challenge societal norms to allow you to express yourself authentically in your personal and professional life?
Needs vs expectations: Anna encourages people to prioritise their needs over societal roles and expectations. She advises you to let go of ego to avoid regrets in life. Her perspective promotes being honest about yourself and acknowledging your needs and boundaries, creating a more authentic and fulfilling life.
Reflection question: How can you prioritise your needs over other people’s expectations to lead a more authentic and fulfilling life?
The Impact of Words: We talked about the significance of being mindful of the impact of our words and behaviours on others, as well as recognising the need for self-awareness and genuine intentions to motivate interactions. We talked about the importance of understanding the effects of oour actions and fostering better workplace relationships through reflection and recognition.
Reflection question: How can you become more mindful of the impact of your words and actions on others?
Every reflection question encourages you to stop, pause and apply Anna’s insights to your own life, to foster a deeper understanding of self-awareness, mindfulness, and authentic expression.
Do share any thoughts, ideas and reflection you have here on substack or LinkedIn.
Looking forward to having you on my learning journey in 2024!
