Self-awareness is increasingly recognized as an important ingredient for effective leadership. Suppose that you are responsible for creating a leadership development program in a government organization. What activities or processes would you introduce to help participants in this program constructively develop a better self- awareness of their personality, values, and personal biases?

This is an important question because it lays the foundation for leadership development as well as improving perceptions about ourselves and others. The quick answer here is for leadership trainees to receive more feedback about themselves. This can occur through novel experiences which then provide feedback to the participant about his or her behavior and performance. One such example is an assessment centre, where observers monitor participant behaviors during exercises and later provide confidential feedback to those participants. A related activity is 36-degree feedback, where trainees receive systematically compiled feedback from peers, subordinates, and bosses in a form that offers clarity about strengths and areas for improvement. 

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