WHY SELF-AWARENESS MATTERS AT WORK
For most, success in the workplace is about hitting all your targets, constantly mastering your craft, and making loads of money.
But how do you succeed without self-awareness?
Self-awareness is defined as the “conscious knowledge of one’s own character and feelings”, and it’s a key component of emotional intelligence (EQ).
You may think this doesn’t hold much relevance in a professional setting, but being aware of yourself, your behaviours, and your actions towards others can massively impact how you approach work and eventually succeed in the long run.
SIGNS OF SELF-AWARENESS
You’ve probably heard this phrase a lot, and at a glance, you probably deemed yourself as self-aware.
We live in our bodies every day so we know all our thoughts and how we feel… surely it’s impossible to not be self-aware?
Not to burst your bubble but only 10-15% of the population is deemed as self-aware (Better Up). Yep, this shocked me too.
But when you look at the signs of someone who is and someone who isn’t self-aware, it starts to make sense as to why this is something we should all be working on.
Low self-awareness can cause you to:
Have lowered self-esteem or come across as arrogant
Be impulsive and make bad decisions
Fail at accepting responsibility and taking feedback
Act out because you can’t regulate your emotions
Say harmful things and be highly critical
Become highly controlling of yourself and others
High self-awareness can cause you to:
Have a strong sense of self-worth and be confident
Carefully evaluate your thoughts, feelings, and actions
Always look for ways to improve yourself
Build strong, trustworthy relationships
Take feedback and act on it
Be intentional with your wellbeing
And there’s no way of turning these things on and off at work either. These feelings and behaviours will eventually spill into your professional life and make a big impact – good or bad.
IT IMPACTS YOUR RELATIONSHIPS
Having a self-aware employee or team member is a dream. Not only are they open to criticism and make balanced decisions, but they tend to be super supportive and are quick to apologise if they went wrong.
Bosses
Bosses don’t just hire and promote someone who is theoretically experienced and talented, but someone who is humble and optimistic to excel in the company and the culture, not just themselves.
People who lack self-awareness may easily clash with bosses or figures of authority. Your manager may:
Fear your decision-making and how you handle difficult situations
Get frustrated at your inability to take feedback
Find it hard to train you or give you new ideas because of your pride
Not want to put you in a leadership position because you may struggle to communicate with empathy and awareness
Bosses appreciate self-aware employees because they’re open to new things and they look out for other members of the team!
Team members
Your team is a crucial part of your professional journey but also your personal one as you meet great friends.
57% of people surveyed say having a ‘work best friend’ makes work more enjoyable
22% feel more productive working with friends
21% say friendship makes them more creative
Source: Wild Goose.
Experiencing the true joys of teamwork may be hard for those who lack self-awareness. The same in any friendship, accountability, and empathy are crucial things to not just making friends but keeping them.
Disagreements happen at work all the time. People have bad days. You probably will be put in a situation where you have to have a difficult conversation with someone.
How you deal with these things will make crucial changes amongst your peers.
Self-aware people recognise that in order to build true relationships, they have to lead with kindness. Whereas, people who lack self-awareness may cause people to feel intimidated.
Your co-workers will appreciate self-aware colleagues because they’re mindful of others, supportive, and confident without being arrogant.
In fact, you’re more likely to inspire your team when you’re self-aware because you’re constantly working towards better and you have no shame in admitting mistakes!
IT IMPACTS YOUR WELLBEING
Lacking self-awareness isn’t just about how you present yourself externally, but also how you feel internally. Being self-aware means you’re able to manage your wellbeing because you recognise your emotions. This also relates to how you handle situations at work:
Pressure and stress
The desire to constantly control things may impact a work/ life balance. You may be unaware of when you need a break or how to calm yourself down in a stressful situation
Time-management
Self-aware individuals know how to manage their time in order to maximise their productivity. Maybe you’re a morning person so you do hard tasks before lunch, or you use a certain productivity tool to hold you accountable. These are examples of being aware of your time.
Feeling capable
Self-awareness isn’t just about humility but it’s also about a true sense of confidence in order to feel capable in their jobs. Although we’ve discussed how people with a lack of self-awareness may come across as arrogant – that may actually be a sign they’re insecure, leading them to feel worried about doing well at work.
IT IMPACTS YOUR SUCCESS
So, hitting all your targets, mastering your craft, and making loads of money may not seem all that simple now.
How you view yourself and others around you can have a huge impact on your career.
As mentioned, bosses may fear promoting you due to poor decision making and a lack of consideration for authority or for those under you. You also may struggle to develop your skills if you’re unable to take feedback from anyone else. And finally, having low self-esteem or constantly pressuring yourself to succeed can lead to burnout which leads to unproductivity .
But, you’re not alone, remember that up to 90% of the population struggle with a few if not all of these things, but it’s up to you to make a change.
How?
This article on Verywell Mind is great, but a quick summary:
Be open with your boss, team members, and friends about things they think you should work on. Also, keep a journal about things that have happened and how you felt in the moment. Not only will this help your professional relationships and mentalities, but also your personal ones.
- Written by Tim Macmillan
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