One of the greatest gifts that comes with growth in leadership is awareness.
When we first begin leading people, most of our energy is spent trying to prove ourselves. We want to show we can make decisions, solve problems, and drive results. But as we mature, something powerful begins to develop – we start to see more clearly.
We become aware.
Aware of – our own strengths and weaknesses.
Aware of – the needs of the people around us.
Aware of – the consequences of our decisions.
Aware of – the opportunities we once walked right past.
Awareness is what separates reactive leaders from intentional leaders.
Craig Groeschel says it this way: “People often overestimate their own self-awareness.”
The truth is, most leaders believe they are aware, but the deeper you go into leadership, the more you realize how much you didn’t see before.
Awareness is not something you arrive at.
It is something you continually develop.
Early in my leadership journey, I thought awareness meant knowing what was going on in the business. Sales numbers. Job progress. Crew performance. The operational metrics.
But true leadership awareness goes far beyond the scoreboard.
It’s noticing when a team member who is usually positive suddenly becomes quiet.
It’s sensing tension in a meeting before anyone says a word.
It’s recognizing when a system is breaking before it fully collapses.
It’s understanding when your own emotions are influencing your decisions.
Awareness forces us to slow down and observe before we react.
Awareness precedes change!!
If we are not aware of something, we cannot improve it.
This applies to our businesses.
It applies to our leadership.
And it absolutely applies to our faith.
One of the principles I’ve adopted over the years is what I call the 51% principle.
Many leaders get stuck because they believe they must have 100% certainty before they act. They want all the answers, all the guarantees, and all the validation before making a move.
But leadership rarely works that way.
Often the best we can do is gather the information available, pray on it, seek counsel, and evaluate whether the decision aligns with our core values.
If I am at least 51% convinced that something is the right move for the people under my charge, and it aligns with the values that guide my life and leadership, then I go all in.
Not halfway. All in.
Waiting for perfect clarity often leads to paralysis.
Awareness gives us enough clarity to move forward.
This principle applies to our faith journey as well.
Many people delay stepping into what they believe God is calling them to do because they are waiting for absolute certainty. They want every detail revealed before they take the first step.
But faith has never worked that way.
Scripture is filled with examples of people who stepped forward without knowing the full picture.
Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he was going.
Peter stepped out of the boat without knowing if he would sink.
The disciples followed Jesus without knowing how the story would unfold.
They simply had enough awareness to believe they were moving in the right direction.
Sometimes leadership looks exactly like that.
You don’t have every answer.
You don’t see the entire path.
But you have enough awareness to take the next step.
And when that step aligns with biblical principles and your core values, you move forward with conviction.
Awareness also changes how we view our responsibilities as leaders.
It reminds us that our decisions affect real people.
Every policy we create, every hire we make, every opportunity we pursue has ripple effects throughout the lives of those who trust our leadership.
That kind of awareness creates humility.
It reminds us that leadership is not about power.
It is about stewardship.
Craig Groeschel often reminds leaders: “When the leader gets better, everyone gets better.”
But the reverse is also true.
When a leader lacks awareness, everyone feels it.
A lack of awareness leads to poor communication.
Poor culture.
Poor decisions.
But when awareness is present, everything begins to sharpen.
Conversations become more thoughtful.
Decisions become more aligned with values.
People feel seen, heard, and understood.
The beautiful thing about awareness is that it compounds over time.
The more you listen, the more you learn.
The more you learn, the more you see.
And the more you see, the better leader you become.
But awareness requires intentionality.
It requires time to think.
Time to reflect.
Time to ask yourself difficult questions like:
What am I missing right now?
Where might my blind spots be?
How might my decisions affect others in ways I haven’t considered?
Great leaders are not the ones who know everything. They are the ones who are aware enough to keep learning.
So here is the challenge.
Slow down long enough to notice.
Pay attention to what God might be showing you in your leadership, your relationships, and your calling.
If something is pulling on your heart…
If wisdom from Scripture confirms it…
If counsel from trusted voices affirms it…
And if you are at least 51% convinced it is the right move…
Go for it!
Move forward with faith. Awareness doesn’t exist to keep us stuck. Awareness exists to give us the clarity to take the next step. And often, the next step is all God ever intended for us to see.