Hey,
At any stage of your leadership journey, one of the most valuable practices you can adopt is regular self-assessment.
1. Understanding your leadership style.
1. Understanding the values that drive your decisions.
This will help you lead with authenticity, adapt effectively, & build trust.
As I’ve written many times, trust is tempo & although often unquantifiable, therefore not favoured as a typical performance metric, it really can be the difference!
Here is some absolute truth: Leadership is not just about strategy or authority—it’s about relationships, integrity, and the ability to grow alongside others.
Naturally our leadership styles evolve, but if you want to gain momentum then be intentional about checking in with yourself.
As an example, many leaders (myself included) identify with a servant leadership style—prioritising the needs of the team, listening actively, & focusing on personal development for every-one involved. If you lead this way, values like empathy, humility, and accountability probably resonate with you. These are strengths, but they can also bring challenges, such as an avoidance of conflict or struggling with assertiveness when tough decisions are needed.
To better understand your own style and values, try this simple but powerful technique:
Self-Reflection Exercise:
The “Start-Stop-Continue” Assessment
At the end of each month (or quarter), set aside 20–30 minutes to write down:
1. Start: What leadership habit or approach should I start doing that aligns with my values or helps my environment thrive?
1. Stop: What behaviour or mindset is no longer serving me or those around me that I need to stop?
1. Continue: What am I doing well that I should continue to reinforce?
This is an adaptable technique & can uncover blind spots as well as affirm your growth. Over time, it can become a mirror for your evolving leadership identity.
In conclusion:
Effective leadership is less about having all the answers and more about staying curious—especially about yourself.
Whether you’re leading yourself, a team or guiding your peers informally, self-assessment isn’t just a professional exercise, I’d say it’s a leadership value in itself.
It’s all about progress over perfection.
Rich.
