An Introduction to Triple Loop Leadership
Discovering Your Leadership
Over the next four months, I’ll be diving into the four critical elements of our Triple Loop Leadership framework. This journey is designed to help you, as a leader, navigate the complexities of modern leadership. Each month, we’ll explore a different topic, starting with the foundation of it all: self-awareness. Without it, everything else becomes shaky and uncertain. So, this month, let’s take a closer look at ourselves—our motivations, values, and biases—to ensure our leadership is rooted in self-reflection and authenticity.
The Mirror Within: Beyond the Surface
Every leader faces countless decisions, dilemmas, and challenges. We often charge forward with solutions, but how often do we step back and ask ourselves why we lead the way we do? The Mirror Within challenges us to pause and turn our focus inward. This is where real leadership begins—with a deep, honest look at who we are beneath the titles and roles we carry.
Triple loop leadership isn’t about others seeing you in a particular light. It’s about understanding how you see yourself and why. What drives you? What biases shape your decisions? What do you truly stand for? The answers to these questions are essential because we're simply reacting to external forces without knowing who we are at our core. Triple loop leadership demands more.
The Strength in Self-Awareness
Leaders with high self-awareness aren’t just effective—they’re grounded. They understand that leadership is about making deliberate choices, not automatic responses. They recognize the patterns in their behavior, both good and bad, and adjust accordingly.
Over the years, I’ve seen leaders grow the most when they commit to self-reflection. Those who are aware of their strengths and, more importantly, their blind spots, are the ones who lead consistently and with clarity. They can tackle challenges with greater agility because they understand where they might stumble and take steps to counteract those tendencies.
Understanding Your Values, Biases, and Motivations
At the heart of self-reflection lies the need to understand your values. These aren’t just words you throw around in a team meeting; they are the principles that drive your decisions and actions. But understanding your values requires more than just identifying them—it means digging deeper. Where do these values come from? How have your experiences, culture, and background shaped them?
Similarly, we all have biases, whether we know them or not. These biases, often unconscious, can quietly shape how we interact with others and lead our teams. They impact how we perceive situations, judge people, and make decisions. Uncovering these biases allows us to make more balanced, fair choices.
And then there’s motivation. Are you driven by recognition and success? Or are you motivated by a deeper purpose, a desire to create meaningful change? Understanding what truly fuels you will align you with your goals, even when times get tough.
Leading with Purpose and Consistency
When we develop self-awareness, we also learn how to adapt our leadership to different situations. There’s no single formula for being a great leader—different circumstances call for different styles. A self-aware leader knows when to step up and take control and when to step back and empower their team. This flexibility is what separates reactive leaders from intentional ones.
Consistency matters too. When we lead with a clear sense of who we are, we build trust with our teams. They know what to expect from us because our actions align with our words. This consistency doesn’t mean rigidity—it means staying true to our values even as we adapt to changing environments.
Think about a leader you respect. Chances are, they didn’t just inspire you with grand speeches or bold decisions. They earned your trust through consistent actions that reflected their core values. Self-awareness allows us to achieve this level of consistency by aligning our inner beliefs with our outward actions.
The Challenge of Self-Reflection
Let’s be honest—self-reflection isn’t easy. It requires vulnerability and a willingness (which we will discuss next month) to face uncomfortable truths about ourselves. It’s much simpler to keep pushing forward without stopping to ask why we’re doing what we’re doing. But that’s not how strong leaders grow.
When we avoid self-reflection, we end up stuck in routines, making decisions out of habit rather than purpose. We lose sight of the bigger picture. On the other hand, leaders who prioritize reflection stay grounded. They are better equipped to face challenges because they’ve taken the time to understand and work on their weaknesses.
Practical Steps to Begin Your Journey
If you’re ready to start building self-awareness, here are a few steps to guide you:
Make time for reflection: This doesn’t have to be a huge time commitment. Set aside even 10–15 minutes at the end of your day to reflect on your decisions, behaviors, and interactions.
Ask yourself real questions: Go beyond the surface. What decisions did I make today? Did they align with my values? Were any of my biases at play?
Get feedback: Sometimes we’re blind to our own shortcomings. Asking trusted colleagues for honest feedback can give you a fresh perspective on how others perceive your leadership.
Be open to discomfort: Growth requires vulnerability. You may not like everything you discover about yourself during this process, but that’s where the magic happens. Lean into the discomfort and learn from it.
Final Thoughts: Leadership Starts Within
Leadership isn’t about managing others—it’s about mastering yourself first. The Mirror Within is your starting point for that journey. By looking inward and facing the truth about who you are as a leader, you create a solid foundation for growth, adaptability, and impact.
This month, take the time to reflect on your leadership and discover the values, motivations, and biases that shape you. Over the coming months, as we continue through the Triple Loop Leadership framework, you’ll see how this self-awareness forms the foundation for every other aspect of leadership. So, embrace the mirror, and let’s begin.