Turning Self-Awareness into Team Action
You've Looked in the Mirror. Now, How Does Your Team See the Change?
You’ve taken the first, hardest step. You downloaded "Leader in the Mirror," which means you're one of the rare leaders who has the courage to ask the tough questions. You've paused, reflected, and looked past the title on your door to see the person in charge.
That self-awareness is a powerful, private victory.
But here's the truth: leadership doesn't happen in a vacuum. It happens in meetings, in one-on-ones, in high-stakes deadlines, and in the unspoken-but-felt culture of your team.
Your new-found self-awareness—that "aha!" moment you had reading the ebook—is useless until it's translated into action. If you’re the only one who knows you're trying to change, the change isn't real.
So how do you bridge the gap between your private reflection and your public leadership? How do you ensure the leader you want to be is the one your team actually gets?
It's a three-part process.
1. From Blind Spot to Open Dialogue
The fastest way to stall your own growth is to hide it. Your team is already accustomed to your old patterns. If you suddenly try to change without explanation, your new behavior will be seen as unpredictable, not intentional.
You must be the one to start the conversation. This isn't about confessing every weakness; it's about strategic vulnerability.
You Realized (Reflection): "I'm impatient and I interrupt my team in brainstorming sessions, which shuts down creativity."
You Say (Team Action): "In our next brainstorming session, I'm setting a new rule for myself: I'm not allowed to speak for the first 10 minutes. My goal is to do less talking and more listening, and I want you to hold me accountable to that."
This action does two things:
It signals to your team that you value their input.
It gives them permission to help you grow, turning them from spectators into stakeholders in your leadership.
2. From Good Intentions to New Systems
Your old habits are comfortable because they're built into your systems. To change the habit, you must change the system.
Good intentions are not a strategy. A new system is.
Intention: "I need to stop micromanaging my senior reports."
New System: You replace your "just checking in" emails with a new rule: "I will only check in on the process during our scheduled weekly one-on-one. The outcome is what matters. As long as you're on track for the outcome, the 'how' is your domain."
Intention: "I need to be more accessible to my team."
New System: You create a new calendar block for "Office Hours" every Tuesday afternoon, guaranteeing you are available and present. You then protect that time as fiercely as you would a client meeting.
The leader in the mirror doesn't change until their calendar, their meeting agendas, and their management processes change, too.
3. From "How Am I Doing?" to "What's It Like?"
The final step is to close the loop. You've looked in the mirror, but you still can't see the back of your own head. Your team can. You have to ask them.
But most leaders ask the wrong questions.
Bad Question: "Am I a better leader now?" (This is vague and asks them to judge you, which is uncomfortable.)
Good Question: "In that last project, did you feel you had the autonomy you needed to succeed?"
Bad Question: "Do you think I'm a good listener?"
Good Question: "What's one thing I could do in our next one-on-one to make you feel I'm fully present and hearing you out?"
This line of questioning isn't about your intentions; it's about their experience. When you make it safe for them to tell the truth, you've not only changed your own behavior—you've changed the entire team's culture.
The Work is Next
Reflection is the starting line, not the finish line. The leader you saw in the mirror is just your potential. The leader your team gets every day is your reality.
The work to close that gap is the most important work you will ever do.
You don't have to do it alone. At Rocket Sales, we specialize in helping leaders turn reflection into a powerful, permanent action plan. If you’re ready to build the systems and get the coaching you need to become the leader of your highest potential, visit us at www.rocketsales.us.
