I came across this interesting interview at HCI.com on the nature of self awareness as a tool for managers. The interview is with Dr. Miriam Lacey, a professor at Pepperdine University who focuses on organizational behavior and development. The point with the most resonance for me was this one:

Observe your impact on other people. If you are in a meeting, what happens after you talk? Do they ignore it? Do they get inspired and energized? Are they rolling their eyes and looking the other way? We are not taught to look at the impact we have on people. That’s a skill managers ought to develop. Seeing your impact and adjusting your personal style accordingly is the best predictor of management success that I know.

The best people I’ve ever worked with are the ones who can read others and understand the impact they are having on them.  Conversely, the most difficult to deal with are the people who “are who they are” with no interest or ability to change or adapt to different environments.  I think Dr. Lacey makes an often overlooked point: each person has the ability to “adjust their personal style” to maximize their impact. Those that don’t may be missing a critical management competency.