THINK YOU’RE SELF-AWARE? GUESS AGAIN!

Although most people think they are self-aware, a 5-year research study showed only a small percentage truly are. Self-awareness is the first of the four components of EI, emotional intelligence.

As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in the workplace, those with higher levels of emotional intelligence may be the ones still employed, as professionals with higher EI will still be needed to show empathy, build strong relationships, ease conflict, improve teamwork and boost morale. 

This post offers you valuable tips and resources, so you can start your journey to greater self-awareness, the first of the four components of EI: self-awareness.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE SELF-AWARE?

According to the article Developing Self-Awareness: Learning processes for Self and Interpersonal Growth,  self-awareness is “the ability to see ourselves clearly that is, to become the object of our own attention. Self-awareness influences our behavior and the type of person we want to become.”

You may think this is just an internal process; however, it’s an external process as well. It can include thoughts about how others receive us, which may be painful for us to accept.

Today’s blog will focus solely on the internal process, which is challenging enough as a starting place for self-awareness.

“People will do anything, no matter how absurd, to avoid facing their own souls”- Carl Jung

What are some of the obstacles to seeing ourselves clearly? Based upon my own journey through self-reflection and 25 years’ experience as an executive coach, it mainly includes the following:

• Lack of experience with self-reflection

• Fear of what will be discovered

• Resistance to change: especially as habits solidify with age
  

  If you’re still reading this post, chances are you’re ready to “face your soul.”

  
  Though uncomfortable, the rewards include greater confidence, self-worth, and deeper empathy.
  

  Ready to get started? Here are my suggestions:

  1.     Find a quiet spot—free from interruptions.

  2.     Allow adequate time—refection can’t b rushed

  3.     Quiet your mind with meditation or deep breathing

  4.     Select one area you feel needs improvement. Personal example: I had to come to terms with my lack of patience when dealing with slower-paced individuals. I realized my behavior was, at times, rude and disrespectful to others and I did not wish to continue along this path.

  5.     Create a new strategy. I used my SET Principle tool: STOP. EMOTIONS DOWN.THINKING UP. This led me to cut off any negative verbal (interrupting) or non-verbal behaviors (furrowed brow) and replace them with non-judgmental active listening.

  6.      Visualize success. Picturing yourself applying your new strategy. Visualization activates brain regions responsible for movement, effectively warming up the brain to perform the activity. (Citation)

  To conclude, developing self-awareness, the first component of emotional intelligence, is like a “tune up” for the mind. In this blog, I focused on inner reflection and offered practical steps for improvement.
  
  Stay tuned for the next blog, in which I will address reflection from the outside in. Please let me know if you enjoyed this blog and be sure to read the previous one. I’d love to hear if this information was helpful! Here’s to improving your Human Skills in the Age of AI!

  Additional resources:

  You Tube TEDX Talk by Tasha Eurich “Increase your self-awareness...”

  My YouTube videos on The SET Principle®

  London, M. (2023). Developing Self-Awareness: Learning Processes for Self. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior.

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