Becoming More Self Aware - Gadd Business Consultants

Written by: Devon Klomp, Gadd Business Consultants

It’s important to take moments of criticism and turn them into a learning opportunity, a chance to improve. Without taking the steps to become more self aware we become oblivious to who we know ourselves to be and how others see us. If you don’t take the time to understand yourself, it can be easy to make the wrong career move or business decision. Even something as specific as your skill set. You may have not taken the time to nurture your skill set by investing your time in growth opportunities due to the fact that you don’t understand your skill set. This problem may have caused you to apply for contracts, jobs, projects that didn’t suit you, your skill set or who you are.

-Reflection and journaling

It’s important not to spend too much time in deep reflection of yourself as research shows it can cause anxiety. The trick is to keep a daily short journal, five minutes maximum, or maybe regular journaling every few days. Try writing a meaningful account of an event that has caused confusion or misunderstanding.

-Put yourself in someone elses’ shoes

Reflect on an event or situation behind the eyes of someone else in the room, maybe even the person you are interacting with. Doing so will help you see things from a different perspective. This may help you to understand how you are perceived by others, as well as understanding how the other person may be reacting.

-Just Ask

There’s no better way to find out the truth than to just ask for it. Ask someone you trust who will be truthful with you, a question that will help clarify your concerns. Be prepared to hear feedback that you may not like, it may not be pleasant, but it may be the most direct way to finding an answer about something that will help you to improve for the better.

The journey to self-insight is not a stroll. It takes time and won’t necessarily be easy, but the results in the long run will be highly rewarding.

Article to reference: http://99u.com/articles/56000/how-to-become-more-self-aware