Tips for Reflective Practices in Leadership

Are you taking a mental pause---why? Are we slowing down enough to reflect on our leadership skills? As CISO’s we are very business securing our business–but at what cost? Are you able to slow down, pause and take a mental break? Like when Flight Attendants tell you “put your mask on first —before you help others”  The thought of taking care of yourself first, before you dive in and help others. How are you doing that today–this week?  Every leader should slow down, pause and ask some solid questions. Here are 7 to get you started ***Is my communication effective within the organization? Given that CISOs frequently communicate complex security concepts and strategies, clarity and motivation in communication are essential. It's important that messages are not only conveyed but resonate well with diverse audiences within the organization. ***What aspects of my leadership are effective, and what needs improvement? Regular introspective reviews can provide valuable insights, helping CISOs understand their strengths and areas needing improvement, which is essential for adaptive and responsive leadership. ***When is it necessary to change leadership tactics? CISOs need to determine when a change in leadership approach is required to advance security practices and when consistency is more appropriate. This discernment is crucial for effective leadership. ***How does fear affect my leadership decisions? While fear can motivate a proactive stance on threats, it can also lead to conservative decision-making that may hinder innovation. Recognizing and managing fear is essential for balanced leadership. ***In what ways can I better support my team today? Leadership is fundamentally about service. CISOs should focus on how their decisions and leadership style contribute positively to team dynamics and the overall effectiveness of their security operations. ***Is my ego obstructing progress in cybersecurity measures? A leader's ego can be a significant barrier to accepting feedback and embracing new ideas. CISOs must maintain humility to remain open and receptive, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. ***Am I granting sufficient autonomy to foster innovation in my team? Providing team members with autonomy is crucial for fostering innovation and engagement. Trusting your team with significant responsibilities encourages initiative and can lead to enhanced cybersecurity measures. These reflective questions are designed to help CISOs cultivate a more introspective and adaptive leadership style, directly impacting their effectiveness and the security posture of their organizations. What would you add to this? #CISO #Cybersecurity #CIO #Leadership #Teamwork Ashwin Krishnan Arun DeSouza Matt Shivers Mark Bryson Vishal Chawla Otto von Schrenk 🔹️CISM®, BCompSc Steven Kintakas

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗜𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 - Self-Leadership is the foundational ability that enables you to effectively express all of your other knowledge, skills, strengths, and passions.   The 𝗦𝗢𝗔𝗥 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 provides a practical roadmap for demonstrating self-awareness, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, and agility when engaging your most important and complex situations that require strong relationships for success. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳 1) I am clear about my overarching purpose. 2) I can name the personal values I believe in the most. 3) I align my actions to my purpose and personal values. 4) I can describe the environment that brings out my Best Self. 5) I can describe the environment that brings out my Worst Self. 6) I understand my strengths and how to leverage them. 7) I understand my weaknesses and how to mitigate them. 8) prioritize self-care to address my most basic needs. 9) I am aware of when my most fundamental needs are not being met. 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 1) I try to understand others’ situations before making judgments. 2) I am aware of how my perception biases can distort how I view situations and people. 3) I am aware of my emotions and can accurately describe my feelings. 4) I know what situations trigger my negative emotions. 5) I understand how my negative feelings can affect my behaviors. 6) When feeling negative emotions, I always pause to gain balance before taking action. 7) I use my breathing to calm my emotions. 8) seek diverse perspectives when encountering complex situations. 9) I stay true to my Best Self when engaging with difficult situations. 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 During my harder conversations: 1) I set intentions that align with my goals and values. 2) I try to create clarity and alignment on the core issue. 3) I am capable of managing others' defensive reactions. 4) I actively try to understand others’ perspectives.  5) I ask follow-up questions to increase my understanding. 6) I allow for silence after asking a question. 7) I am prepared to share my perspectives on the issue. 8) I engage others in creating solutions. 9) I develop clear agreements for shared action. 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 1) I regularly practice reflection to learn from my actions. 2) I set development goals for ongoing improvement. 3) I prioritize time for learning. 4) I deliberately practice developing new skills. 5) I share my growth goals with trusted peers. 6) I have a social network that supports my learning and growth. 7) I create strategies for overcoming recurring challenges to my development. 8) I actively seek feedback from others. 9) I listen to constructive feedback without being defensive.   *Excerpt from my book, Getting It Right When It Matters Most: Self-Leadership For Work & Life (Gambill and Carbonara, 2021)

Leadership isn’t about being perfect. It's about being aware enough to recognize your imperfections and work on them. This awareness is crucial. It directly impacts how a leader interacts with their team and how the team functions as a whole. A self-aware leader must acknowledge their areas of growth. By doing so, they create a more supportive, stable, and inclusive environment. This fosters open communication, trust, and a sense of belonging, which are essential for a high-performing team. A leader’s self-awareness is the foundation upon which strong, resilient teams are built. Improving self-awareness doesn't have to be a daunting task. -----A Few Ideas That Continue to Work for Me----- Self-Reflection Journaling 📓✍️ Why It Helps: Journaling can help you process your emotions and identify patterns in your behavior. It's a powerful tool to gain insight into how you react to different situations and why. Ask for Feedback 🗣️🔄 Why It Helps: Constructive feedback provides an external perspective on your actions and decisions. It can highlight blind spots and areas for improvement that you might not see yourself. Set Personal Goals 🎯📝 Why It Helps: Setting goals gives you a clear direction and purpose. It also provides a benchmark for tracking your progress and celebrating your achievements. Regularly Review Your Values and Beliefs 🌟📜 Why It Helps: Understanding your values and beliefs helps you align your actions with your principles. It also clarifies your motivations and can reduce internal conflicts. Learn from Experiences 📚🌍 Why It Helps: Reflecting on experiences helps you gain deeper insights into your behavior and decision-making processes. It also provides lessons that can guide future actions. -----Improving self-awareness is a continuous process----- It's about making small, consistent efforts to understand yourself better and align your actions with your values. ♻ Repost this if you agree the goal isn't to be perfect but to be aware of your imperfections.

One of my clients started using OWLs daily as a reflective leadership practice. 𝗢:  What did I 𝗢𝗕𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗩𝗘? What leadership skills did I see and hear from others today that I thought were interesting?  𝗪:  What did I do 𝗪𝗘𝗟𝗟? What leadership skills did I make good use of today, and in what situations? 𝗟:  What did I 𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡? What did I learn today about my use of leadership skills, how I've grown, and how I want to continue to grow? She spends 5 minutes at the end of each day jotting down her reflections. Then she spends 15 minutes once I week thinking through what experiments she wants to try the following week - ways that she wants to flex her leadership style or use different tools from her toolbox. Monthly, she reviews progress against her personal leadership goals. 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

𝗗𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗗𝗶𝘃𝗲🤿 🌱 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗱𝗲: 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁 🌱 Following our latest exploration of the "𝗧𝗼𝗽 𝟭𝟬 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 & 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘀" vital for our times, today we're zoning in on the first one: 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗲𝘁. But this isn’t just any growth mindset, it's growth rooted in anti-racism and equity. A Growth Mindset, as Dr. Carol Dweck’s research highlights, is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed. It's about embracing challenges, persisting through obstacles, and seeing effort as a pathway to mastery. Now, let's infuse this with an 𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶-𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘀: 1. 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀    Before growth comes awareness. Recognize and challenge any unconscious biases you hold. How are these biases shaping your decisions, actions, and reactions as a leader? How are your actions and decision upholding systemic and unjust systems? 2. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴    A growth mindset pushes you to constantly learn. But go beyond traditional learning; immerse yourself in histories, narratives, and perspectives of Global Majority groups. This will deepen your understanding of systemic racism and the nuances of intersectionality. (you might begin with the term "Global Majority") 3. 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁    Embrace feedback, especially from those with lived experiences and perspectives different from your own. This not only fuels personal growth but builds an inclusive culture where everyone's voice holds weight. 4. 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀    When confronted with mistakes, especially those related to cultural insensitivity or racial bias, view them as a chance to learn, reflect, and do better. Apologize, understand the impact, and iterate. Growth isn’t just about personal or professional development—it's about moral and ethical evolution too. 5. 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲    Use your growth to uplift others. This means mentoring, advocating, and creating opportunities for Global Majority individuals within your organization. With a growth mindset steeped in anti-racism and equity, we don't just improve ourselves. We redefine leadership, dismantle harmful structures, and co-create spaces where everyone thrives. 🤔 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 In what ways has your understanding of a growth mindset evolved to address racial and social inequities, and how will you apply it in your leadership journey? #leadership #management #culture #antiracism #change

Are you good at self-reflection? Being a leader can be hard work. Effectively and successfully managing other people requires you to manage the “dissonance” of leadership (i.e., the discordant, contradictory information, inputs, needs, and demands that accompany leadership). To do so, “you need to manage the different elements of your identity and yourself that you bring to the role — the aspects of selfhood that serve the role’s and the organization’s needs. Doing these things well is contingent on how good you are at self-reflection.” In this article, Ben Bryant offers 5 steps you can follow to enhance your self-reflection and thereby grow as a leader. The first step is to “notice what you notice”, meaning that we pay attention to what is happening around us and, importantly, how we respond and/or feel about it. The second step is to “feel the emotions before we start thinking about it”, you cannot avoid or deny them, though you should explore them. The third step is to “question your own explanation for your feelings”, knowing there is rarely a single, correct explanation for what you did or said (we are complex). The fourth step is to “identify your own predictable patterns”, as you likely carry some fixed ideas and assumptions with you. Finally, the fifth step is to “make intentional choices to accept or change”, being intentional in terms of choosing to accept or change who you are as a leader. As Bryant concludes, “reflecting on experiences as they unfold will help you shift from simple solutions to moving toward an acceptance of dissonance within yourself and your role. I believe you’ll be a better leader for it.”

Leadership Insights: Learning to Stop for Growth Just getting into my new read of the year, "What Got You Here Won't Get You There" by Marshall Goldsmith. I was quickly inspired by Peter Drucker's wisdom, "We spend a lot of time teaching leaders what to do. We don't spend enough time teaching leaders what to stop. Half the leaders I have met don't need to learn what to do. They need to learn what to stop." This resonates deeply with the essence of leadership evolution; my evolution. Growth isn't just about acquiring new skills; it's equally about shedding old habits. Goldsmith brilliantly highlights the importance of self-awareness and the courage to identify behaviors that might hinder our journey to becoming better leaders and people. Habits Leaders Need to Stop (A few favorites): 1. Not Taking Time to Reflect: Regular self-reflection is essential for leadership growth. 2. Ignoring Personal Well-being: Prioritize self-care; a healthy leader is a resilient leader. 3. Not Listening: Actively listen without interruptions; understanding precedes effective leadership. 4. Being Defensive: Accept feedback gracefully; defensiveness inhibits personal growth. 5. Failing to Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge achievements; celebrate successes with the team. 6. Clinging to the Past: Embrace change; don't let past successes limit future opportunities. 7. Not Having a Clear Vision: Define a clear vision for yourself and your team; clarity inspires. 8. Avoiding Difficult Conversations: Tackle challenges head-on; constructive conversations are catalysts for improvement. 9. Neglecting Professional Development: Stay curious; continuously invest in your leadership skills. 10. Lacking Gratitude: Express gratitude; appreciation fuels motivation and commitment. Leadership Growth Tips: • Self-Reflection: Regularly assess your leadership style and its impact. • Seek Feedback: Actively solicit input from peers, subordinates, and mentors. • Continuous Learning: Stay curious; invest time in expanding your leadership toolkit. • Actionable Goals: Develop a plan to replace old habits with positive ones. Remember, leadership is a journey, not a destination. Let's commit to not only learning new skills but also unlearning habits that might be holding us back. What behaviors do you believe leaders, or you for that matter, should "stop" for continuous growth? Share your thoughts! #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipInsights #BookRecommendation

In a new leadership role and not sure what to do first? Schedule in time for regular reflection. I know what you may be thinking. There are goals to be set, deliverables to be shipped, and roadmaps to create. Who has the time? I get it. Your role means operating in a complex environment with few right answers and many moving parts. The responsibility can feel enormous. It's easy to run from meeting to meeting, fueled by adrenaline. These conditions rarely produce the best results. To make decisions in complexity, we need time to sort through the confusing mixture of information, thoughts, and emotions crowding our brain. To succeed, you need to have your wits about you. That's why your first priority is reflection time. It's best done every day but even once a week will work. Making this your first priority will allow you to step back so you zero in on root causes, think strategically and develop creative solutions. Whatever you do, don't skip this step. Scheduling even 15 minutes a day or an hour once a week will help. #leadershipdevelopment #leadership #leadershipcoaching

Leadership, like any other skill, requires development through training and practice. After years leading change efforts in healthcare and coaching leaders, I've observed steps that can foster a leader's growth: 1. Self-Reflection: Regularly evaluate your decisions, actions, and their consequences. Assess your strengths and areas for improvement. 2. Emotional Intelligence: Lead with empathy and develop emotional awareness. It not only enhances your relationship with your team but also sharpens your decision-making. 3. Embrace Change: A true leader is a change agent. Don't shy away from disruptive ideas. View obstacles as chances to grow. Remember, it takes practice. Leadership is about growth, not perfection. Keep learning, evolving, and changing things for the better. Share in the comments what steps you are taking to intentionally develop your leadership skills. #LeadershipDevelopment #ChangeAgent #emotionalintelligence

The uncomfortable truth about leadership: You are either creating, contributing, or tolerating problems. It's a hard pill to swallow, but it's time to face the uncomfortable truth and learn from it. Leadership isn't just about having power, authority, and making the big decisions. It's about taking ownership and responsibility for the consequences of those decisions and being accountable for how you will respond to problems that arise. Just when you didn’t think it could get any harder… Leaders aren’t just judged by what they do.  As Gary Keller said, “Leaders are judged by what their people do.” So, what can you do to ensure you're not creating, contributing, or tolerating problems? Create a culture that allows team members to work fearlessly: As I wrote in Building the Best, "Culture is the shared values and beliefs that guide thinking and behavior."  Encourage your team to raise their voice and provide psychological safety for them to do so. Provide a clear set of core values to guide you. Demonstrate a growth mindset: Constantly look for ways to become the best version of yourself.  This will show your team that you are living in fixed thinking but growth thinking.  Embrace every challenge as opportunities for growth and development. This will help you and your team to learn from mistakes and avoid repeating them in the future. Develop a strong sense of self-awareness: Reflect on your actions and decisions, and ask yourself if you're contributing to the problem or simply ignoring it. Ask for feedback from team members or take a leadership 360°.  Get a leadership or performance coach to speak the truth to you.  All of these will help you make better choices and become a more effective leader. Remember, leadership is a journey and not a destination. If you have seen yourself ignoring or blaming others, it’s time to learn from your mistakes and use that knowledge to improve yourself and your team. Do you agree? #leadership #coaching #problemsolving