Why 80% of Leaders Fail this Test: Boost Self-Awareness for Law Enforcement Success

Only 15% of leaders are truly self-aware, yet 80% believe they’ve mastered it.

In Episode 34, we tackle this critical gap, exposing why blind spots sabotage leadership and how self-awareness builds trust, unity, and impact in law enforcement. With candid stories from our own growth journeys, we share actionable strategies—reflection, feedback, and journaling—to help you see yourself clearly and lead better. Packed with insights and a weekly challenge, this episode is a must for law enforcement leaders ready to transform their teams, careers, and communities.

What is self-awareness in leadership?
Self-awareness is understanding your emotions, behaviors, strengths, weaknesses, and how others perceive you, enabling authentic and effective leadership.
Why is self-awareness important for leaders?
It fosters trust, improves decision-making, and prevents miscommunication, which is critical for unifying law enforcement teams and communities.
How can I improve my self-awareness as a leader?
Daily reflection, seeking feedback, journaling emotional triggers, and using assessments like StrengthsFinder help uncover blind spots.
What are the signs of low self-awareness in leadership?
Blaming others, defensiveness, surprise at team reactions, and repeating mistakes indicate blind spots that erode credibility.
How does self-awareness affect team performance?
Self-aware leaders communicate clearly, resolve conflicts empathetically, and inspire trust, boosting team morale and effectiveness.

Key Moments

The Self-Awareness Gap: 80% of people think they’re self-aware, but only 15% are, creating blind spots that harm leadership credibility and team trust.
Dual Nature of Self-Awareness: It involves recognizing weaknesses to improve and embracing strengths as part of your unique wiring, turning perceived flaws into assets.
Three-Legged Stool: Self-awareness balances internal understanding (emotions, motivations), external perception (how others see you), and, for some, reliance on a higher power for wholeness.
Leadership Impact: Low self-awareness fuels miscommunication, defensiveness, and disunity, while self-aware leaders make balanced decisions and foster trust.
Emotional Pain Points: Leaders face frustration, isolation, embarrassment (when teams see flaws they don’t), and defensiveness, which can escalate conflicts.
Practical Tools: Reflect daily, seek feedback from trusted colleagues, journal emotional triggers, and use assessments (e.g., Myers-Briggs) to grow self-awareness.
Servant Leadership: Self-awareness enables leaders to balance their tendencies with others’ needs, serving teams with empathy and authenticity.

Quotes of the Episode

“When we have blind spots, it really starts to burn bridges. But when we can become self-aware, it will build a lot of bonds.”
“Some of the things that I see as weaknesses in myself are actually truly, genuinely the way my DNA works… Self-awareness is starting to embrace the things that are true about yourself and flip them from weaknesses to strength.”
“A lack of self-awareness can weaken your credibility. It can make you harder to trust because there’s this tension between what you think you’re communicating and what you’re actually communicating.”
“If you had one person in the room who would speak that truth to you, and you could receive it with warmth… it could change the way your next briefing goes.”
“When you take a moment to pause and notice how your day went, you are heaping mounds of self-awareness on yourself.”

Don’t-Miss Highlights

The Problem: Leaders who lack self-awareness misjudge their impact, leading to poor decisions, eroded trust, and team disunity. Ignoring self-awareness risks career stagnation and community harm.

Emotional Pain Points: Frustration, isolation, embarrassment, and defensiveness arise when blind spots go unchecked, fueling conflict and undermining confidence.
What’s at Stake: Without self-awareness, leaders face weakened credibility, fractured teams, stalled careers, and strained community relations.
Picture of Success: Self-aware leaders make balanced decisions, build trust, advance careers, elevate the profession, and foster safer communities through empathy and accountability.
Action Plan:
1. Pause and Reflect Daily: Ask, “What went well? What could I improve? Why did I react that way?”
2. Seek Feedback Weekly: Ask a trusted colleague, “What’s one thing I could improve?” and listen openly.
3. Journal Emotional Triggers: Write about moments of strong emotion to uncover patterns and blind spots.
Blind spots burn bridges; self-awareness builds bonds.
Benefits Restated: Self-awareness strengthens leadership, deepens relationships, unlocks career growth, elevates the profession, and builds thriving communities.
Weekly Challenge: Take 5 minutes each evening to reflect on one interaction or decision. Ask: What did I do well? What could I improve? Write one insight and one action to take. Share your commitment with a colleague for accountability.

Law enforcement leaders, your self-awareness shapes your legacy. Don’t let blind spots burn bridges—start building bonds today. Commit to one small step this week: reflect daily, seek feedback, or journal to see yourself clearly. Share your progress with a trusted colleague and take the challenge to lead with impact. Your team, career, and community are counting on you—act now!