The Challenges of Self-Awareness in Leadership: Bridging the Perception Gap

Leadership Series

Leadership is as much about understanding oneself as it is about inspiring and guiding others. Yet, for many leaders, self-awareness—the ability to accurately recognize one’s emotions, behaviors, and impact on others—remains elusive. This challenge is often exacerbated by cognitive biases, insecurities, and a perception-reality gap that prevents leaders from seeing themselves as others do. The consequences of this blind spot can ripple through an organization, eroding trust, diminishing morale, and stalling progress.