Ken Banta Examines Why Self-Awareness May Be Leadership’s Most Underrated Skill

Ken Banta, Founder and CEO of The Vanguard Network, has released a new Substack article titled “Is Self-Awareness the Most Underrated Skill in Leadership?” published November 5, 2025.

Drawing on insights from a recent Vanguard Next Gen GC session, the article explores why many leadership derailments have little to do with technical competence and everything to do with blind spots, behavior, and self-perception. Banta reflects on candid discussions with aspiring General Counsels, executive search leaders, and seasoned GCs, highlighting how introspection, feedback, and emotional intelligence increasingly separate strong leaders from merely capable ones.

The piece challenges the myth of the purely technical leader and underscores how influence, adaptability, and cultural fluency matter more as responsibility increases. For leaders preparing for bigger roles, Banta argues that self-awareness is not a “soft” skill, but a core capability that shapes credibility, trust, and long-term impact.

To read the full article on Substack, click here.

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The Vanguard Network is a leadership community and advisory platform that helps senior executives sharpen foresight, strengthen performance, and achieve impact. Through forums, exchanges, and programs, Vanguard convenes leaders across industries to share challenges and solutions in a confidential, collaborative setting.