"Know Thyself" - Socrates

As early as the time of Socrates, individuals recognized the importance of understanding oneself.  There are continued arguments about nature versus nurture in the development of leadership skills.  Many conclude that good leadership is an art rather than a science, and leadership styles need to vary depending on the situation.  Consensus indicates that to be a leader, one must have a high degree of self-awareness, which is a key component of what is called emotional intelligence.

“In fact, Daniel Goleman’s research at nearly 200 large, global companies revealed that emotional intelligence—especially at the highest levels of a company—is the sine qua non for leadership. Without it, a person can have first-class training, an incisive mind, and an endless supply of good ideas, but he still won’t make a great leader.” (Goleman, 2004)  Emotional intelligence consists of self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation, empathy, and social skills. 

Self-awareness is knowing your motivations, preferences, and personality, and understanding how these factors influence your judgment, decisions, and interactions with other people. (Cooper, 1998)   Self-awareness is an excellent starting point for effectiveness in the work place.  There are many methods for gaining self-awareness.  One means to gain insight into ourselves is through the completion of the Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II. I'd like each of you to visit the Keirsey Temperament Sorter-II at the following Web site and take the personality assessment.

The Keirsey™ Temperament Sorter^®-II

Please note:  The Web site asks you to login to complete the survey.  The site does not use your information in any way.  Review your Temperament Sorter II  MINI report (FREE). Do you feel the core characteristics apply to you?

For a quick overview of the four temperaments, go to About the KTS-II.

“Self-awareness is an essential skill for developing personally and professionally. If you have a high degree of self-awareness, you’ll be able to capitalize on your strengths and develop plans for improving or compensating for your limitations.” (de Janasz, Dowd, Schneider, 2009)