Lead Like You Mean It: The Self-Awareness Advantage
- Deondra Wardelle
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
Why Self-Awareness is a Nonprofit Leader’s Superpower
In the nonprofit sector, the mission is bold, the stakeholders are numerous, and the pace is relentless. However, when you dive into pursuing the mission without a clear sense of purpose and self-understanding, you risk following others' agendas instead of your own. Self-awareness serves as a stabilizing anchor: it helps you understand your values, leadership style, and triggers, enabling you to lead with intention rather than react impulsively.
Research on nonprofit strategic planning emphasizes the importance of alignment. Leaders who understand their internal compass can more effectively align their teams and strategies.
Discovering Your Leadership Style
Here are three practical steps you can take this week:
Self-assessment – Consider your dominant leadership style: directive, coaching, collaborative, transformational. Use informal exercises (journaling, peer feedback) or formal tools to reflect. Being aware of “how you show up” opens up choice.
Three moments that shaped you – Write down three pivotal leadership or personal moments. What value showed up each time? What pattern do you notice?
Reflect on your ‘imposter’ voice – Mission-driven environments frequently cause even senior leaders to feel as though they do not fully belong or meet expectations. Recognizing this voice is the initial step toward overcoming it.
Aligning Your Personal Values With the Organizational Mission
Authentic leadership emerges when your personal values align with your organization's mission. For example, if you value community empowerment but your nonprofit's culture focuses more on metrics and growth than on building relationships, you may face conflict. To cultivate self-awareness, I recommend conducting regular check-ins to ensure that your mission, values, and strategy remain in alignment.
Here is a reflective exercise for you: list your top 3 personal values and your top 3 organizational values or mission statements. Identify where they align and where there might be conflicts. Use this understanding to guide your decisions and your approach to leadership.
Overcoming Imposter Syndrome in Mission-Driven Roles
Even high-achieving nonprofit leaders might wonder, "Am I the right person to lead this organization?" or "Will I be exposed as a fraud?" The paradox is that you were hired for your strengths, but in quiet moments, you may doubt those very strengths. Here are three ways to shift this narrative.
1. Recognize the imposter voice when it appears.
2. Reframe your leadership story by focusing on your contributions rather than striving for perfection.
3. Seek support from a trusted peer or coach who can help reflect on your unique leadership qualities. Remember, you don't have to go through this journey alone.
#MIndsetMonday reflection prompt: Block 20 minutes this week to complete the reflection exercise below. Then, share one insight with a trusted peer and ask, “What leadership quality do you see in me?” You may be surprised by what you learn.
Journal Prompt: “Three moments that shaped my leadership purpose:
What values were at play in each situation? What overarching patterns can I identify? How can I pinpoint my next opportunity for growth?
Lead Boldly, From the Inside Out
These small moments of reflection lay the groundwork for lasting impact. When you lead with self-awareness, you lead with purpose. The better you understand what drives you, the more effectively you can inspire and align those around you. Every successful strategy, culture change, and community transformation begins with a leader who is grounded in their identity and values.
Take some time this week to pause and reflect on what fuels your leadership and how your values manifest in your work. If you’re ready to gain more profound clarity about your next steps as a leader, I invite you to schedule a 30-minute Clarity Call with me. During our time together, we will explore ways to strengthen your leadership from the inside out, ensuring that your organization's mission and your team continue to thrive.
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