096 | Self-Awareness, Alignment & the Leadership Edge: Unlocking Your Best Self with Aaron Dawson

From Leadership on the Links by Tyler Bloom

March 19, 2026 · 58 min · Episode 96

About this episode

Aaron Dawson discusses self-awareness and leadership in the golf and club industry.

BOOK A STRATEGY CALL In this episode of Leadership on the Links, we sit down with Aaron Dawson, founder of Viewpoint EQ and a 20-year hospitality and private club veteran, for a candid conversation about self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and what it truly takes to lead at the highest levels of the golf and club industry. Aaron shares his transformative journey with the Birkman Method a powerful personality and behavioral assessment and how it changed not only how he leads, but how he listens, communicates, and builds psychologically safe teams. From lessons learned at Carmel Country Club to the universal blind spots holding club leaders back, this episode is a masterclass in intentional leadership. Whether you're a superintendent, director of agronomy, general manager, or aspiring leader, this conversation will challenge you to look inward and elevate how you show up for your team every day. What You'll Learn in This Episode: How the Birkman Method unlocks hidden behavioral needs that other personality assessments miss and why self-awareness is the most critical leadership skill in private clubs today. Why the "Golden Rule" fails 70% of the time, and what to do instead when…

People in this episode

Host: Tyler Bloom

Guest: Aaron Dawson

Topics covered

self-awareness
emotional intelligence
leadership
psychological safety
private clubs
communication

Keywords

self-awareness
leadership
Birkman Method
psychological safety
communication
private clubs
emotional intelligence

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Viewpoint EQ, Carmel Country Club, Birkman Method