The Habit of Self-Awareness

“The single most important habit of highly effective leaders is… the habit of self-awareness.”

Atip Muangsuwan
CEO Coach and Coach Supervisor

1. What Is Self-Awareness?

One of my executive clients walked into our coaching session with a question that stopped me in my tracks: “What is self-awareness, and how important is it?”

Here’s how I shared with him.

Mindfulness is a prerequisite of self-awareness. And self-awareness is a prerequisite of self-awakening. 

When we are fully mindful of our own thinking, feeling, and doing in the present moment, we develop a better understanding of ourselves. That better understanding is what we call self-awareness. When that understanding deepens into insights—until we become truly awakened to who we are and why we do what we do—that is self-awakening. In coaching terms, we call this the “Aha moment” or state of epiphany.

There are two types of self-awareness: worldly self-awareness and spiritual self-awareness. They are differentiated by how we practice them and the benefits we gain. Worldly self-awareness helps us navigate our careers, relationships, and leadership. Spiritual self-awareness connects us to something deeper—our purpose, our values, and ultimately, our authentic self which is non-self or nothingness.

For leaders, executives, and business owners, worldly self-awareness is non-negotiable. And the most extraordinary leaders I’ve coached have mastered both.

2. How to Create Self-Awareness for Yourself

Self-awareness is not something you have—it is something you practice. Here are the most powerful ways to cultivate it:

• Be a good observer of yourself. Be mindful of your thinking, feelings and actions throughout the day, every day.
• Ask yourself “what” questions. Not “why” (which invites defensiveness), but “what”—What am I thinking, feeling or doing right now? What is driving my reaction?
• Practice daily self-reflection. Set aside time each day to review your thoughts, feelings, actions, and decisions.
• Seek constructive feedback. Other people are a mirror for your behaviors. Ask trusted colleagues, team members, or mentors for honest feedback about how you show up.
• Keep a journal. Journaling helps you recognize patterns—what serves you and what doesn’t.
• Take a strengths assessment. Tools like the Gallup Clifton Strengths Assessment and the VIA Character Strengths Test reveal your natural gifts and talents and how to optimize them.
• Visualize your ideal self. Your ideal self reflects your hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Use this vision to keep moving in the right direction—even when setbacks arise.

These are not theoretical exercises. They are practical, daily disciplines that build the muscle of self-awareness over time.

3. Why We Need to Make Self-Awareness a Habit

Here’s the truth that most leaders don’t want to hear: research indicates that only about 10% of leaders are truly self-aware.

That means 90% of leaders are operating with blind spots—blind spots that cost them trust, influence, and results.

Self-awareness is not a one-time achievement—it is a daily practice. And the stakes could not be higher. When leaders master self-awareness, people stop working for you and start working with you. Because self-awareness builds trust—and trust builds everything else.

Here is what self-awareness gives you:

• It frees you from assumptions, judgments, prejudices, and biases.
• It helps you be more empathetic towards people with different perspectives.
• When your self-perception matches others’ perception of you, you become more likely to empower, include, and recognize others.
• It gives you the power to influence outcomes and the people around you.
• It allows you to understand things from multiple perspectives.

Self-aware leaders don’t just perform better individually—they create cultures of integrity where unethical behavior becomes socially unacceptable. They build trust.

Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. And you cannot have emotional intelligence without being mindful of your thinking, feelings, and actions.

For executives making million-dollar decisions, for political leaders shaping the future of nations, for celebrities whose every move is scrutinized—self-awareness is not a luxury. It is a leadership imperative.

4. How to Make Self-Awareness a New Habit

If self-awareness hasn’t been your habit yet, don’t worry. Habits are built, not born. Here is how to start:

Start with mindfulness. Mindfulness is the gateway to self-awareness. Practice mindfulness meditation daily—even just a few minutes for the beginning. For a simple practice, you can use your breath as your anchor. When you breathe in, be aware that you are breathing in. When you breathe out, be aware that you are breathing out. When your mind wanders, notice it and gently return to your breath.

Start small. Growth isn’t a one-time event; it’s a daily habit. You don’t need to do all the seven practices as recommended earlier at once. Pick one. Start with daily self-reflection for five minutes. Or keep a journal for one week. Or ask one trusted person for feedback.

Make it consistent. The goal is not perfection—it is consistency. Self-awareness isn’t a destination; it’s a daily practice. Small, consistent steps create extraordinary change over time.

Get an outside perspective. We all have blind spots we cannot see on our own. A professional coach can give you a more accurate sense of yourself—an outside perspective from a neutral party. A professional coach doesn’t just help you see yourself more clearly; they encourage you to view others with more empathy.

The Leader You Could Become

You have built an extraordinary career. You have mastered strategy, finance, operations, and people management. But there is one domain you may have neglected—the domain of self.

The most successful leaders I have coached share one thing in common: they made self-awareness a non-negotiable habit. They didn’t wait for a crisis to look in the mirror. They didn’t assume they already knew themselves. They committed to the daily practice of understanding who they are, how they show up, and what drives them.

And that commitment transformed everything—their decisions, their relationships, their organizations, and their lives.

The question is not whether you can develop self-awareness. The question is whether you will.

You don’t have to do this alone. As your coach, I’m your mirror, your accountability partner, and of course, your thinking partner. Together, we will uncover your blind spots, amplify your strengths, and build the self-awareness habit that will take your leadership—and your life—to the next level.

The best investment you will ever make is in yourself. Are you ready to begin?

About Atip Muangsuwan: Atip is an executive leadership coach who specializes in helping high-achieving leaders overcome internal barriers to unlock their full potential and drive organizational success. Through a blend of strategic frameworks and profound personal insights, he empowers leaders in transforming their mindsets, emotional states, and behaviors for lasting impact.