New study finds practicing this one habit makes better leaders

Cultivating good habits that contribute towards your self-development as a leader should be an ongoing practice – and here’s a new one to add to the list that could yield beneficial results for both current and aspiring leaders.

A new study carried out by Personnel Psychology, which publishes psychological research centered around people at work, found that practicing self-reflection as a leader will result in the best possible “leader self – a personalised representation of who an employee aspires to be at their best as a leader in the future.”

Additionally, it found that “activating a best possible leader self can have beneficial effects for the way that any employee feels and behaves at work”, including their willingness to help co-workers and engage in strategic vision, as they’re more likely to perceive themselves as “more leaderlike due to the positive effect generated by such reflection.”

Questions to ask yourself to generate self-reflection

Whether after your morning coffee or before you switch off at night, take a moment to reflect on your leadership self with a few simple questions.

1. What do you really want to achieve?

2. What are you passionate about?

3. What kind of a leader do you want to be?

4. Think of a leader you admire – what aspects of their style inspire you?

5. What do you want to be remembered for?