I recently had a candid conversation with a leader that is part of a culture change project about the major issue impacting turnaround within the organization.

After reviewing the facts, they said: "You know, I think the community does not want this. I've been doing everything in my power to support and empower them but I also still have to do my job. At every turn, they are nasty and toxic. They just don't want things to get better! I mean, don’t they see the vision? They all agreed they were ready!"

The truth is, they were right. All of the pieces were in place, but the community was not ready. Indeed, they were actively pushing against moving forward. For whatever reason, the collaborative vision that was established at the beginning of the project had left a bitter taste in their mouths, and hollow pit in their stomachs.

We’re often told to practice Self-Awareness in our interpersonal relationships, but what are the selfish benefits of being Self-Aware? Rather than thinking of Self-Awareness as something you practice for the sake of others, we’ve been spending some time imagining what it looks like when we apply self-awareness to our own needs, goals, and personal development…