Jen Gotch

A leader needs to understand how she influences her team, says the founder of the lifestyle company ban.do.

Becoming more self-aware is one of the best things you can do for yourself, especially when it comes to managing other people. I didn’t understand how my personality, strengths, and weaknesses would permeate through the business. It was really eye-opening for me. Now, I’m much more aware of the weight of my words and how my actions set an example for everyone. If I’m afraid of difficult conversations, then I set the tone that we can’t have difficult conversations. At the same time, if I’m encouraging emotions in the workplace, then people feel comfortable being emotional in the workplace. Understanding my impact on company culture took me awhile, but now I’m highly aware of it.