Why Self-Awareness Sets Great Leaders Apart

What sets great leaders apart in times of crisis and change? In this week's episode, John shares a powerful insight he gained from Chick-fil- A chairman Dan Cathy on the importance of self-awareness and situational awareness for leaders — especially in tough times! After his lesson, Mark Cole and Chris Goede discuss practical ways to cultivate these awarenesses as a leader . They explore how seeking honest feedback, asking thoughtful questions, and learning from role models can expand your leadership capacity. Key takeaways: Self-awareness doesn't happen in isolation—it requires the courage to invite feedback from others and the humility to receive it. Before you can lead yourself effectively, you must first know yourself authentically. Self-awareness precedes situational awareness. Situational awareness grows through experience, but you can accelerate it by asking "What would a leader I admire do in this situation?" and seeking input from trusted mentors. Our BONUS resource for this episode is the Why Self-Awareness Sets Great Leaders Apart Worksheet, which includes fill-in-the-blank notes from John's teaching. You can download the worksheet by visiting MaxwellPodcast.com/ SelfAware and clicking "Download the Bonus Resource." Take the next step in your growth journey and become a Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member. Click here to speak with a Program Advisor today! References: Watch this episode on YouTube! Accelerate your growth with the Maxwell Leadership App (start your 7-day free trial today with code PODCAST7!) The Value of Going First Podcast Episode Join the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team

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Why Self-Awareness Sets Great Leaders Apart is an episode from The John Maxwell Leadership Podcast by John Maxwell.

This episode is 42:24 long.

This episode was published on Dec 31, 2025.

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