The Self-Awareness Guy

Leaders frequently ask me why they should care at all about diversity. My answer is usually related to building self-awareness and using diversity as a tool to help the organization move forward positively. Certain policies and behaviors lead in one direction while others create different results. The outcome is up to each company. Think about the following outcomes when thinking about how to increase self-awareness and create a diversity-friendly environment, these are the potential payoffs for your company of paying attention to diversity.

1. Increased trust.

2. Greater collaboration.

3. Resolution of differences.

4. Improved communication.

5. Better staff cohesion.

Now think of the effects of each of these five outcomes and project what each of them might do for your company’s bottom line. Imagine if your company excels in even one area. What would happen if it achieved all five?

Companies who commit to developing self-awareness and making diversity a positive force in the workplace reap substantial benefits because they get rid obstacles to success. The good news is that organizations can move in this direction at any time by planning and implementing a diversity strategy that, over time, leads to the outcomes we’ve listed. All it takes is sustained effort and commitment.

What will you do to increase self-awareness and promote diversity in your workplace?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-awareness can help leaders promote excellent communication in the workplace because, when people understand and are comfortable with their own and others’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, they are able to get along with fewer issues.

Workplaces are interesting entities in that they can be a source both of great satisfaction but also incredible frustration. Leaders I’ve worked with have shared many stories with me about less than effective communication and its negative effect on their workplaces. Here are some ideas to build self-awareness and promote excellent communication in your workplace:

1. It’s OK to ask for what you need from your co-workers.
2. It’s OK to speak up in your workplace.
3. It’s OK to challenge things you don’t agree with in your workplace.
4. It’s advisable to talk with co-workers with kindness and respect.
5. It’s OK to talk about our organization’s challenges and do away with secrets.
6. It’s OK for leaders and employees to talk about difficult things and try to find ways to function more effectively.
7. Leaders and workplaces can change any time they want.
8. Workplaces often benefit from having an uninvolved, outside person give them a fresh perspective on what’s going on and how to fix it.
9. We owe it to ourselves and our organizations to be as healthy as possible.
10. Why toil in misery when we can communicate well and build happier workplaces?

Leaders who lack self-awareness often get stuck doing things a certain way because they don’t know any other way to do things. It’s been my experience that there is always hope for more effective communication but we have to commit to doing it.

Effective communication only happens if you put the time and effort into it to change the patterns you’ve established. It takes a leader with the vision and insight to build a new kind of workplace. What will you do to build self-awareness and promote excellent communication in your workplace?

Cheers,

Guy