Self-Awareness is the ability to focus on your internal values, beliefs, and qualities and understand how they impact on your behaviour.
Developing self-awareness is an essential practice for all of us and particularly those in leadership roles. Take some time out to think about yourself with no judgement and no pressure.
As Daniel Goleman says: ‘self-awareness is the cornerstone of Emotional Intelligence.’
In order to exhibit traits of empathy, self-regulation, motivation, and social skills, the more aware we are the happier and more productive we will be.
But here’s the rub – like anything it takes time and a little effort. Whenever I use Emotional Intelligence as the basis for my coaching, I see greater improvements in my clients. I now know this is because they are developing their self-awareness. They are learning when they are hijacked by the part of the brain called the amygdala, where they may undergo a feeling of loss of control or severe stress. They learn what their triggers are and how to deal with them. They learn about their values and their beliefs.
Developing self-awareness also helps us to become more aware of our biases and maybe even our blind spots. This leads to us being more successful and productive, as well as happier.
Taking time out to reflect is so essential for all of us, whether we are managers, business owners, or parents and yet…..why are more of us not doing it? Time. We don’t feel we have the time or we don't take the time to evaluate and study ourselves at a deeper level.
Spend the time. It is time incredibly well spent. We all have the power within us to develop our awareness and in so doing live a more inspiring productive life. Being self-aware is what separates great leaders from good or mediocre ones.
Two ways to develop your self-awareness are to journal daily and/or to meditate. Both practices enable you to reflect and go deeper into your thought processes. It takes time but the effort is well worth the rewards.
‘Be a river – not a reservoir.’ John C Maxwell.