Some things leaders can do to begin increasing
their self-knowledge.
Our frontal lobes are the executive center of our mind/body where selective information from the body and brain converge. It is where we make choices. But we can only base choices on the information that reaches them and some of the information allowed in is "garbage" which keeps us from expanding our conscious awareness of ourselves. Here are a few things we can do to broaden the flow and eliminate or reduce information that detracts from greater consciousness and effectiveness:
Meditation: This appears to allow more information to reach the frontal cortex and discard some of the noise that keeps us from seeing the reality of ourselves and others.
Prayer: This has some of the benefits of meditation by allowing freer access to the center of our being which may very well be located in the frontal cortex.
Self Discipline (Doing the harder thing): This habit often leads to disconfirming experiences that disrupts habitual pathways to the frontal cortex and gradually allows possibilities to override stagnating habits.
Not Judging: This allows more information to get to the frontal lobes. Gather information from others—dialogue: List the things you find intolerable in others and ask trusted persons if they can see any of those attributes in you.
Remind yourself that ambiguity is not equivalent to danger: Learn to tolerate anxiety without taking impulsive action to reduce your discomfort. (Social evaluative anxiety is often a sign that we have enough cortical matter to be faced with choices and is usually reduced once a realistic direction is identified)
Be skeptical of your assumptions: Ask others what they think and listen to them with "beginner's mind". As you begin to question your own certainty your mind becomes more receptive to improved quality in your own life.
Engage in self-talk that disconfirm your assumptions: The quality of this self-talk should improve significantly if you are engaging in some of the other suggestions on this list.
Change habitual ways of dealing with high levels of stress: This helps to override hard-wired brain tendencies. Talking things out with trusted others can be very helpful.
Take a long-term perspective: Long-term self interest creates better results than short-term self interest since the consequences of our actions are often experienced remotely in time.
Think about the perspective of your direct reports: Work at putting yourself in other's shoes. It can reveal your tacit mental models, especially in the context of the above.
BASIC: Listen to Leadership and Self-Deception (published by the Arbinger Institute) in audio form.
ADVANCED: Listen to Your Body Is Your Subconscious Mind (by Candace Pert, Ph.D.) in audio form.