Self-Awareness in Leadership: How Coaching Helps You Lead from How You’re Wired

I used to think that being a professional meant I had to perform the same way as everyone else. Late nights, early mornings, busy schedules—just push through. That’s what everyone does, right?

But over time, I realized something important: I am a morning person. And I am the only one in my household who functions best that way.

At work, most of us ignore these natural patterns. We schedule meetings when we’re drained, make big decisions when our minds are foggy, and wonder why clarity and confidence feel out of reach. They assume performance should be consistent across all hours and contexts.

This is where self-awareness becomes foundational to leadership, not optional.

Research supports what I’ve learned through experience. Dr. Michael Breus, a sleep and chronotype researcher, explains that people have natural energy peaks and troughs. Some brains perform best in the morning, some in the evening. Pushing against that wiring is not a lack of discipline—it’s biology.

Daniel Pink, in his book When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing, found that analytical decision making is strongest during our peak energy times, while creative thinking is often better in off-peak hours. Yet few professionals design their work around their natural rhythm.

What changed for me was not my schedule. It was my relationship to my own rhythm.

I stopped questioning it. I stopped treating it as something to work around.

And I started using it as information.

Many leaders I coach make the mistake of trying harder instead of thinking smarter. They interpret friction or low energy as a problem to overcome, rather than a signal to leverage their natural wiring. Coaching helps uncover these patterns and turn awareness into practical action.

Self-awareness is not self-indulgence. It is a leadership skill that improves decision making, boosts confidence, and allows you to lead more intentionally.

Reflection Questions

• When during the day do you feel most clear and decisive?

• Where are you consistently forcing yourself to perform against your natural rhythm?

• What one adjustment could make your decisions and leadership more effective?

  
  

If you want support uncovering your natural patterns and using coaching to turn self-awareness into practical, high-impact leadership, this is exactly the space to do it.