429 Why Self-Awareness Is a CEO’s Real Competitive Edge: Lessons from Les Csorba, Author of Aware
In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Les Csorba — senior partner at Heidrick & Struggles and author of Aware: The Power of Seeing Yourself Clearly. Drawing on decades advising CEOs, boards, and leadership teams, Les makes a compelling case that self-awareness is not a soft skill but a strategic differentiator. With leaders facing complexity, speed, and pressure unlike anything in recent memory, Les argues that the ability to see yourself clearly has become a true competitive edge.
Throughout the conversation, Les breaks down why so many successful leaders overestimate their self-awareness — and why that gap grows as they ascend into larger roles. He draws from extensive leadership assessments, behavioral research, and personal experience to show how blind spots quietly shape decisions, team dynamics, and organizational culture. His insights on the “CEO bubble,” the tension between intent and impact, and the way digital validation dulls reflection will resonate with any executive navigating today’s environment.
The discussion also explores practical ways leaders can strengthen their self-awareness without resorting to vague platitudes or one-time exercises. Les shares stories from his own leadership journey, examples from well-known CEOs, and a grounded perspective on how to build cultures that make honest feedback possible. His framing of courage, humility, and reflection feels less like theory and more like leadership discipline.
Finally, the conversation touches on timely challenges — from AI’s influence on leader behavior to the importance of understanding one’s “shadow” as a driver of organizational culture. Les brings a balanced, seasoned voice to these issues, offering clarity without overconfidence. For CEOs and senior executives committed to leading with greater impact, this episode offers a set of insights that are as practical as they are thought-provoking.
Actionable Takeaways
- You’ll learn why most leaders dramatically overestimate their self-awareness and why the gap between perception and reality grows as responsibilities increase.
- Hear how to distinguish between internal awareness and external awareness, and why the difference between intent and impact is where many leadership breakdowns occur.
- You’ll hear why honest feedback rarely reaches the top, and what the best CEOs do to counteract the “bubble” that forms around them.
- Discover how small habits — reflection, solitude, and the “to-be list” — can sharpen judgment and strengthen leadership presence.
- Hear how blind spots form and why naming them isn’t enough, and why building a “courage muscle” is essential for behavior change.
- You’ll learn what leading researchers and leadership assessments reveal about the traits that help executives mobilize, execute, transform, and stay agile.
- Hear how top leaders like Jamie Dimon, Warren Buffett, and Elon Musk approach their own blind spots — and what that means for every executive who wants to keep growing.
- Discover why AI makes self-awareness more important, not less, and how understanding your wiring becomes a safeguard against unintended influence.
Connect with Les Csorba
Aware: The Power of Seeing Yourself Clearly
Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: