Building self-awareness

Self-awareness, or the ability to recognize and understand our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, is a crucial trait in today's modern working environment. As the world of work becomes more complex, dynamic, and fast-paced, individuals who possess self-awareness can better navigate challenges, work more effectively with others, and ultimately achieve greater success in their careers.

So why is self-awareness so valuable?

• Better decision-making: Self-awareness allows us to make more informed and objective decisions, as we have a clearer understanding of our own biases, strengths, weaknesses, and values. We can also anticipate how our decisions might impact others and make adjustments accordingly.

• Improved communication: When we are self-aware, we can more effectively communicate our thoughts, feelings, and needs to others. This can lead to better relationships, more productive teamwork, and a more positive work environment.

• Increased emotional intelligence: Self-awareness is a key component of emotional intelligence, which is widely recognized as a critical factor in success in the workplace. Those who are emotionally intelligent are better able to regulate their own emotions, empathize with others, and build strong relationships.

• Greater resilience: Self-awareness helps us to better understand our own reactions to stress and challenges, allowing us to develop coping mechanisms and strategies to bounce back more quickly.

Nice!! So how can we build and improve self-awareness?

• Practice mindfulness: Mindfulness is a powerful tool for building self-awareness. By focusing on the present moment and our own thoughts and feelings, we can develop a greater understanding of our own reactions and patterns of behavior.

• Keep a journal: Writing down our thoughts and feelings can help us to better understand our own patterns of behavior and reactions to different situations.

• Engage in self-reflection: Regularly taking time to reflect on our own thoughts, feelings, and behaviors can help us to develop a greater understanding of ourselves and our own motivations. Finding even 5 minutes on a daily basis to take a breath and think some more about things that take place around us can be extremely beneficial in our mission.

• Seek feedback: Asking for feedback from others can be a valuable way to gain insight into our own strengths and weaknesses. It's important to approach feedback with an open mind and a willingness to learn and grow. If we find ourselves building a well of excuses everytime we receive honest feedback, then we definitely have work to do in terms of improving our self-awareness.

• Take personality assessments: Personality assessments, such as the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator or the Big Five Personality Traits, can provide valuable insights into our own tendencies and preferences.

In conclusion, by building and improving self-awareness, we can make better decisions, communicate more effectively, and build stronger relationships with others.

Whether through mindfulness, seeking feedback, or engaging in self-reflection, there are many ways to develop greater self-awareness and ultimately achieve greater success in our careers. Cheers!!