How to Transform Your Workplace Through Self-Awareness

 If you’ve ever felt the tension between what you meant and how your message actually landed, this episode is for you. I joined Omar on the Core Impact Podcast to talk about why self-awareness is the foundation of clear communication — and what really happens when leaders learn to see themselves more accurately.

 👉 Listen to the episode here

Why Communication Breaks Down

Most leaders fall into one of two traps:

• Sender bias: “If they misunderstood me, that’s their problem.”

• Receiver bias: “I don’t care what they meant — the impact is what matters.”

But as I share in the episode, communication is always a shared responsibility.

Your intentions matter.

Your impact matters.

And the gap between the two is where trust is built — or broken.

The Self-Awareness Gap

Research shows that while 80–90% of leaders believe they’re self-aware, only about 10–15% actually are.

That gap explains so many workplace frustrations:

• Leaders who work hard but still hear discouraging feedback

• Teams who feel undervalued despite good intentions

• Cultures where communication feels “off” but no one knows why

Self-awareness is the bridge — and it’s the heart of The Congruent Leader.

Why I Wrote The Congruent Leader

In the episode, I share the deeper “why” behind my book:

I kept meeting leaders who cared so much… yet still felt stuck.

They wanted good for their teams, but their impact didn’t match their intentions.

The book is a roadmap for closing that gap through:

• Clarifying your values

• Understanding your strengths

• Owning blind spots

• Moving toward feedback instead of away from it

If the podcast resonates, the book will take you even deeper.

Feedback That Actually Helps (Not Hurts)

We also talked about why only 26% of employees say the feedback they receive helps them do better work.

The reasons are simple:

• It’s not timely

• It’s too vague

• It’s not tied to real behaviors

If you want feedback that fuels growth, start with this shift:

“Good job” becomes

“The way you synthesized ideas in that meeting helped us make a fast, strategic decision.”

Specific. Concrete. Human.

Onboarding, Engagement & Everyday Leadership

Another theme we unpacked:

Organizations often intend to create a great employee experience, but employees don’t experience it that way.

True engagement happens through:

• Clear expectations

• Consistent communication

• Micro-moments of being seen

• Leaders who understand their own impact

It’s less about big events — and more about daily alignment.

If You’re Feeling Stuck or Burned Out

One of Omar’s final questions was about people who feel disconnected or exhausted at work.

Here’s the heart of my answer:

You’re not alone, and you still have agency. Start by noticing the small parts of your work that bring you energy. Those moments become on-ramps back to purpose.

Listen to the Full Conversation

If you want to go deeper into:

• The intention–impact gap

• Navigating tough feedback

• Generational differences

• AI and the future of communication

• The core ideas behind The Congruent Leader

…you’ll enjoy this one.

🎧 Listen here

📘 Get a Copy of The Congruent Leader

Hey, thanks for being here and for watching/reading. My goal is to consistently create content that's engaging, applicable, and inspires you to continue learning and growing as a leader. If you have ideas for future content or any questions at all, please shoot me an email at: [email protected].