Self-Reflection in Leadership with Adam Rosen
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About 15 years ago I read the book “The Four Agreements” by Don Miguel Ruiz, and it was the beginning of a very life-changing journey and experience for me. Up until that point, any “self-help” books I read felt very outdated, preachy, or like the author was really trying to make it sound like their point of view was the only one that mattered. (And let’s be real, this is still often the case today.) At that point, I had yet to encounter a book that felt like it was genuinely filled with wisdom and truth.
Until The Four Agreements that is…
There was something so straightforward about the book, not only in how it was written but also the content. The book is short and gets straight to the point. It felt like common sense the entire time I was reading it which was refreshing to me (honestly, it still is). And, in the end, it had a huge impact on me.
The lessons in that book are probably still some of the most common topics I get into with people when I’m coaching them because they are still some of the most common and universal pitfalls that we run into in life. And that, in and of itself, tells you a lot about just how important the lessons in that book really are.
The book essentially outlines the four promises that we should make to ourselves in order to live a life of freedom and ease.
Be impeccable with your word
Don’t take anything personally
Don’t make assumptions
Always do your best
It sounds so simple when it’s laid out like that, and yet we all stumble over one or more of those agreements every single day of our lives. In my opinion, the real key is to keep getting up, learning, and moving forward every single day.
This practice is a basic foundation of self-reflection, which helps develop our self-awareness. And the best leaders out there have honed their self-reflection skills over the years so that they are constantly in the process of growing and improving.
My guest on the podcast today is Adam Rosen, who shares his own journey with self-reflection and personal development, along with his journey as a founder and business owner.
In this conversation, we talk about a few of the principles listed above, as well as the nuance and context that are important within transparency and authenticity. We also talk about leaders who lean into the hard conversations vs those who avoid, place blame, and step out.
I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode or the book!
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To learn more about Adam and his work, visit eocworks.com. You can also find him on Instagram and LinkedIn (@adamirosen).