In the realm of corporate leadership, self-reflection is emerging as a powerful tool for CEOs aiming to optimize their effectiveness. Hans Vestberg, the 58-year-old CEO of Verizon, revealed his daily self-assessment routine during the Fast Company Innovation Festival 2023. Commencing this practice in 2009 during his tenure as the CEO of Ericsson, Vestberg believes it significantly contributes to his capabilities as a leader.
Every morning, Vestberg rates his mood on a scale from 1 to 10, which sets the tone for the day and guides his approach to work:
- 1-2: On days when his mood falls within this range, Vestberg opts to work independently within his office, recognizing that he isn’t in an optimal state for collaboration.
- 3-7: This range signifies that Vestberg is energized and capable of operating at peak performance, typically when he excels in his role.
- 8-10: When his mood soars in this bracket, Vestberg humorously admits to having an abundance of energy. He consciously endeavors to temper his enthusiasm back to the 3-7 range to maintain a balanced focus on his work.
Vestberg affirms that this daily ritual augments his leadership capabilities, enabling him to harness his strengths effectively.
Notably, Jerry Colonna, an esteemed executive coach often referred to as the “CEO whisperer,” also practices a similar routine named “radical self-inquiry.” This practice, as he describes, involves dedicating a few minutes each day to reflect on one’s emotions and intentions, facilitating better decision-making.
Colonna suggests asking oneself questions like “How am I genuinely feeling?” and “What do I aim to contribute to a given situation?” The objective of this introspective exercise is to understand one’s motivations and behaviors without judgment or guilt, ultimately empowering conscious choices and actions.
While unconventional in the corporate landscape, Colonna emphasizes that embracing self-inquiry provides valuable self-awareness without indulging in narcissism. This self-awareness, as highlighted in a 2018 Harvard Business Review report, plays a pivotal role in enhancing confidence, creativity, decision-making, relationships, and resilience against workplace stress and burnout.
Juliette Han, a neuroscientist trained at Harvard, underscores the significance of self-awareness, asserting that technical skills and charisma, no matter how exceptional, are incomplete without an understanding of one’s impact and interactions with the world.
In summary, the practice of daily self-reflection is gaining traction among CEOs as a potent strategy to cultivate self-awareness and elevate leadership performance, underscoring its relevance and potential benefits in the professional sphere.