Examples of Self-Awareness

Self-Aware People Are Dynamic Instead of Static - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware People Are Dynamic Instead of Static

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People tend to be static or dynamic, which means that they either want to keep the status quo or value ongoing change. When you lack self-awareness and live a static life, you devote a lot of energy to keeping things as they are, a daunting task since the universe is constantly transforming around you. Being self-aware and dynamic helps you be nimble, flexible and able to handle the challenges that come your way, as well as being happier. Here are some signs that indicate whether you’re static or flexible:

Signs You’re Static
Try to keep things the same.
Struggle with change.
Pine for the good old days.
React to events.
Resist new trends.
Struggle with new ideas.
Look at change as losing something.

Signs You’re Dynamic
Don’t mind if things aren’t the same.
See change as a positive.
Pleased that things are constantly evolving.
Behave proactively to welcome change.
Welcome new trends.
Appreciate new ideas.
View change as gaining something.

In the history of the world, many people have tried to halt change but none has succeeded in the long run. Struggling against change only leads to frustration and disappointment whereas welcoming it makes life easier and more enjoyable. Being static will leave you consistently behind while being dynamic gives you the ability to handle any situation that comes your way.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and be more dynamic?

Cheers,

Guy

Increasing Self-Awareness Helps You Build Positive Relationships - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Increasing Self-Awareness Helps You Build Positive Relationships

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Increasing self-awareness helps you build positive relationships with others and make decisions that help you treat yourself well and move your life in a beneficial direction. Try asking yourself some questions to decide what kind of relationships you want in your life, such as:

  • What kind of person do I want to be with?
  • How do I want them to treat me?
  • What kind of relationship do I want?
  • What am I doing to have a great relationship with myself without a significant other in the picture?
  • What can I do to make sure I take care of myself and move in a positive direction?
  • How do I define love or friendship?
  • What things am I doing to build up my self-awareness so I am able to invite positive people into my life?

Take some time to think about questions like these. After a while you’ll have a clearer idea of what kind of relationships are best for you. They key is to know yourself and be healthy enough to attract positive people into your life. It all starts with you.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and build positive relationships?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Aware Leaders Know That Diversity Matters - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware Leaders Know That Diversity Matters

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Leaders and organizations are frequently faced with managing diverse staff and bringing them together to support the goals and objectives of the company. Self-aware leaders build workplaces that use their employees’ diverse talents and abilities rather than stifling them or limiting their potential.

In today’s workplace, diversity is no longer an abstract concept but an opportunity to strengthen your company. Here are some focus questions that will help your organization be more self-aware and formulate a diversity plan:

  • What is our company’s overarching philosophy on diversity?
  • What does our workforce look like?
  • What are the elements that unite us?
  • How do we address differences?
  • How do we bring disparate elements together?
  • Does our company have a coherent policy to address diversity?
  • Is our diversity policy enforced and practiced at all levels?
  • Does our workforce reflect diversity at all levels?

Once you have thought through these concepts you will be at a point where you can begin to develop a philosophy, a strategy as well as policies and procedures that will guide you successfully into the future. What will you do to develop self-awareness and value diversity in your workplace?

Cheers,

Guy

Define Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Define Self-Awareness

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My clients often ask me to define self-awareness clearly so they can begin working on it. Here are some of the key elements of self-awareness:

  • Understanding of how your thoughts affect you and others.
  • Realizing how your emotions affect you and the people around you.
  • Recognizing how your behaviors affect you and other people.
  • An ability to evaluate what you do well and what needs some strengthening.
  • Living consciously instead of unconsciously.
  • Knowing who you really are deep inside.
  • Following your true path in life.

There’s no mystery to self-awareness, it just means that you understand where your feelings, thoughts, and behaviors come from and that you’re able to move them all in a positive direction. What would you add to this list?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Aware Leaders Have Great Listening Skills - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware Leaders Have Great Listening Skills

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One of the most valuable skills self-aware leaders use to encourage effective communication is listening. Many leaders say they’re good listeners but most aren’t. It’s not because they don’t want to listen but rather because our workplaces and leadership styles aren’t designed to promote listening.

Here are some things you can do to be a leader who possess self-awareness and listens well:

1. Don’t talk.

2. Nod and prompt the other person to say more.

3. Ask open-ended questions that don’t have yes or no answers.

4. Lean forward and look interested.

5. Don’t think of the next thing you’re going to say.

6. Don’t think of how you’re going to rebut or contradict a point.

7. Don’t talk.

How many of these behaviors do you practice in the course of your workplace communication? Really listening means listening attentively for meaning. We all understand words but do we really understand what the other person is feeling? Pay attention to what the other person looks like when he or she talks, their demeanor or body language. Do they look upset, do they look confused? Ask open-ended questions that help the other person talk more rather than offering advice or opinions.

If you try some of these ideas you can learn a lot about your employees, co-workers and clients. I also encourage leaders to practice having conversations where they don’t talk at all and just nod. It’s remarkable what you can learn when you don’t talk.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and be a good listener?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Attachment to Outcomes - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Attachment to Outcomes

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A lot of personal development experts talk about doing anything you want in life. You can move in the direction of your dreams at any time you want but many people lose motivation when they feel like they aren’t getting exactly what they wanted. The key to success is to gradually build your  self-awareness without focusing on a specific outcome. You never know what you’ll discover along the way.

Cheers,

Guy

10 Tips to Lead with Increased Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

10 Tips to Lead with Increased Self-Awareness

/ / Self-Awareness in Leadership / , , ,

I consult for a wide range of leaders and organizations and I’m often surprised by the number of individuals who lack self-awareness and lead as if they’ve never considered someone else’s point of view. Some even get into the same types of arguments and interactions that they experienced in their families growing up, which doesn’t tend to lead to amazing results.

Have you ever worked with someone who tried to resolve every problem the same way and ended up fixing nothing and making everyone unhappy? It happens all the time and we call that type of leader a bad boss. Here are some practical things you can do to increase self-awareness and make your leadership skills even stronger:

  1. Figure out and define what you do well and do those things in the workplace.
  2. Identify areas where you could use some help and find people to help you.
  3. Ask your employees where you need some help and listen to their advice.
  4. Be willing to ask for help rather than pretend you know everything.
  5. Be open to information, ideas and perspectives other than your own.
  6. Be willing to change your behavior patterns to improve your workplace.
  7. Admit mistakes rather than covering stuff up to avoid losing face.
  8. Accept change and use it as a catalyst to do new and exciting things.
  9. Delegate and give people the opportunity to grow.
  10. Practice kind behaviors toward everyone at work.

If you practice all ten of these things you already understand what kind of workplace it creates: An environment where employees actually like you and are willing to do more and better work because they’re not miserable. Behaving positively in the workplace leads to better results for you and everyone else.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and lead more effectively?

Cheers,

Guy

The Self-Awareness Guy