What is self-awareness? It easiest to start by explaining what it is not—the absence of knowing one’s strengths and weaknesses. It’s been widely written that the best leaders are highly self-aware, and subsequently quite humble. They know how to delegate in service of an organizational mission, ask for help, and effectively use their talented employees.

 

Alternatively, have you ever had a boss who is a bully, a complainer, or simply incompetent? You never want your professional reputation to be built on these types of perceptions, true or not. Developing self-awareness is a life-long process. It comes from mentoring, candid feedback from friends, family, colleagues, a partner, coaching, and perhaps psychotherapy. How do you know when you have improved self-awareness? When you catch yourself and notice a particular vulnerability and don’t allow it to interfere with a good decision or action.

 

My bias, of course, is to recommend people have a few sessions of coaching and/or psychotherapy to improve their self-awareness. I can say with the utmost confidence I make this biased recommendation knowing that it is proven to be effective and gives people the quick, and also lasting, results they are seeking. In the meantime, let me offer some questions to reflect on, to help start your own internal dialogue to raise your self awareness.

 

The Exercise:

What are my top 3 strengths?

What are my top 3 areas for improvement? What are some reasons people like me?

What are some reasons people may dislike me?

Am I mostly respected in my role?

How much effort do I put towards helping others?

What would people write down on paper as my most visible character traits?