“Self Awareness keeps us grounded, attuned, and focused,” said Campbell, author of Loving Yourself: The Mastery of Being Your Own Person (AuthorHouse, 2012).
In Self Management, individuals are encouraged to evaluate and monitor their energy, attitude, and priority in relation to their personal and organizational visions and goals. This is important because self-management empowers and equips every individual with the knowledge and skills needed to optimize performances which are essential for personal success and corporate accomplishment.
You can catch up on previous Self-Management and Stress posts here.
Effective self-management will enable individuals to develop the needed disciplines that help bridge the gaps between goals and accomplishment. High achievers are people who have learned to effectively manage themselves, tapping on all resources available to motivate themselves toward the fulfillment of their fullest potentials.
Now, in order to live a successful life and meet your full potential, you will need to develop the ability to be self-aware. But what does self-awareness mean?
What is Self Awareness?
Self-awareness is the ability to monitor your own emotions and reactions. Self-awareness allows you to know your strengths, weaknesses, triggers, motivators, and other characteristics. Being self-aware means that you take a deeper look at your feelings, why you feel a certain way and how your feelings could turn into reactions.
At its core, being self-aware means that you can understand why you feel the way you do and make decisions that honor your needs. This can include personal goals, boundaries, and relationships. Becoming self-aware is not something that individuals are always inherently born with, instead, it is a skill learned over time.
By being self-aware you can move through life in a way that honors your individual needs and emotions. Though this is a learned skill some people may find that they come to it more naturally than others. The good news is that with practice and persistence you are able to improve your self-awareness.
How Important is Self Awareness in Leadership and Business?
Without self-awareness, leaders can appear a bit arrogant. If you cannot be personable or know when you are crossing a line, how can you possibly lead a company? The need for self-awareness extends to other business situations, too.
Think about how crucial self-awareness is in giving sales pitches or handling feedback, for instance; if you are not aware of how you will react or do not have a way to prevent a negative reaction, you could end up getting yourself in trouble. Self-awareness is also helpful for presentations. Many people get nervous when delivering pitches, speeches, or even notes at a meeting.
However, self-awareness can help you in these situations. If you use too many filler words during presentations, for example, practice your presentation and have someone clap every time you use a word you want to avoid. Or, if you tend to sway or pace while presenting, try to limit your ability to move by sitting down at the table with your client or even just using a podium. Self-awareness can lead to self-improvement in these areas.
What are Self Awareness skills?
In addition to being aware of your own emotions, self-awareness involves knowing how you will react to others. When you fine-tune your self-awareness abilities, you will become more empathetic because of the heightened emotional intelligence that comes with self-awareness. You also will be more adaptable. If you know how you will react, you might be able to avoid a tough situation by taking a walk or even just a few deep breaths.
Self-awareness could also improve your confidence. By being open about your flaws, needs, and strengths, you will strengthen your ability to be vulnerable, which allows for stronger relationships in the workplace. “When leaders are grounded, they are able to be efficient and deliberate in staying on task and being attuned to those around them. Leaders who have the ability to control their minds and emotions help to guide those around them to develop their own self-knowledge and success.”
Tips to Improve Your Self Awareness
Learning to be aware of yourself isn’t always easy, but mastering this skill can help you become a much more effective leader.
Keep An Open Mind
When you can regulate your own emotional world, you can be attuned to others’ emotions. To be a successful leader, you have to be curious about new people and all they have to offer. This shows that you can be a team player and don’t need to be No. 1. The more open you are to others, the more creative you become.
Be Mindful of Your Strengths and Weaknesses.
Self-aware individuals know their own strengths and weaknesses and can work from that space. Being mindful of this means that you know when to reach out for assistance and when you are good on your own.
Stay Focused
An important part of being a leader is making connections, but you can’t make those connections if you’re distracted. Train yourself to focus for long periods of time without getting sucked into social media, emails, and other small distractions.
Set Boundaries.
A leader needs to have strong boundaries in place. Be warm toward others, but say no when you need to. Be serious about your work and your passions, and keep your boundaries firm to maintain the integrity of your goals and the work you put into them.
Know Your Emotional Triggers.
Self-aware individuals can identify their emotions as they are happening. Don’t repress your emotions or deny their causes; instead, be able to bend and flex with them, and fully process them before communicating with others.
Embrace Your Intuition.
Successful people trust their instincts and take the risks associated with them. Your instincts are based on the survival of the fittest and the need to succeed. They tell you what to do next; learn to trust your intuition.
Practice Self-discipline.
Good leaders tend to be disciplined in every area of their life. It is a character trait that provides them with the enduring focus necessary for strong leadership. You can also check out the updated business tips page for amazing business tips and if you are also thinking of starting a business you can check out the business ideas page for business ideas in agriculture, trading, and so on.
