INCREASING STUDENT SELF-AWARENESS TO PREPARE TOMORROW’S LEADERS

Robin K. Hinkle
Spalding University

ABSTRACT

Academic courses on leadership tend to focus on theory as well as case studies of
historical and contemporary leaders. The literature on leadership has recently underscored the
value of self-awareness on managerial capabilities and effectiveness. For students to achieve the
learning outcome of becoming effective leaders, a foundational graduate course in organizational
leadership, focused on the competency of self-reflection, is required.
To determine the effectiveness of such an approach, this study examines a two-stage
evaluation process, which assessed immediate reaction and long-term application. Stage one
included survey data collected in one week following completion of the course, whereas stage two
involved interview data obtained six months later. The results of this study across both stages
indicated that students developed a greater awareness of their existing leadership qualities, a
desire to behave in ways that build trust, collaboration, and empathy, and a higher propensity to
seek feedback.
Keywords: Student self-awareness, tomorrow’s leaders