Self-Awareness
DEFINITION
Maintaining a clear idea of your own strengths and weaknesses
WHAT IS IT?
Those who are self-aware understand their own personal qualities, strengths, and weaknesses. They neither under nor over-estimate aptitudes, meaning they are neither sheepish nor arrogant. Self-awareness is an individualized, reflective arm of emotional intelligence. Many of the resources given here will cover self-awareness within the context of emotional intelligence (EQ).
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Socrates famously said, “Know thyself,” and many a great thinker has posited that self-knowledge is a prerequisite to knowledge of others and of the world. Leaders who display Self-Awareness are capable of both leading from experience and of asking for help when necessary. They can intentionally capitalize on strengths and work to mitigate weaknesses. These skills also makes them more credible with peers, coworkers, and direct reports.
Suggestions for Improvement
- Use Johari’s Window To Uncover Blind Spots
Johari’s Window is a framework that suggests that there are four areas of the self: (1) the known self – aspects of our character that we and others can see, (2) the blind self – what others can see but we cannot see, (3) the hidden self – what we see in ourselves that others cannot, and (4) the unknown self – what is unseen by both ourselves and others. Work with a colleague to identify aspects of your blind self. Discovering your blind spots can be difficult, but reflection coupled with feedback can help you uncover what you have not been able to see in yourself. Remember: these are areas of potential waiting to be discovered! - Reflect On Your 360 Assessment Results With A Colleague
The 360 Degree Assessment, at its core, seeks to improve your Self-Awareness. Take the information and comb through it with a colleague. Ask for honest feedback, and accept evidenced feedback in order to reap the benefit of the assessment. Take each rater with a grain of salt. No one sees “the whole you” – not even you! So take a step a back and do your best to openly and honestly reflect on the information you glean from the assessment and conversation. - Keep A Daily Journal
Finally, a great way to discover more about ourselves is to write down our daily thoughts. When thoughts and feelings mix freely and rapidly in our heads, we can fail to identify patterns or miss things that have a daily impact. Putting reflections and thoughts on paper leaves a trail of ourselves that we can trace through time. This journal then becomes a very useful resources for discovering aspects of the blind and unknown self discussed earlier. You may even find that your journal captures your evolution as a person over time.
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