Examples of Self-Awareness

Self-Aware Leaders Support Team Building, and Conflict Resolution - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware Leaders Support Team Building, and Conflict Resolution

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Leaders who aren’t self-aware often tolerate conflict as a normal part of workplace interactions. This leads to workplaces where everyone is simply trying to survive and there isn’t much team building or cohesion. Many leaders and employees view chronic, habitual conflict as normal. People are allowed to cut each other down, make hurtful comments or threaten each other (overtly or more subtly) while leaders look on and admire their energy and camaraderie.

Traditionally, many of our workplaces have been rough and tumble zones where only the supposedly fittest survive. This dynamic tends to sap productivity and morale over time because only a few people thrive and the remainder get demoralized. Our predecessors might have been unable to envision a workplace that didn’t encourage conflict but we can.

We have the ability to create kinder workplaces where leaders value self-awareness and help colleagues and employees work well together and build positive work environments. We can fight less and face our challenges united. In the past, we let conflict fester and permeate our workplaces but now we have tools to actually fix things.

Some practical elements you can think about when workplace conflict arises include:

  • What is the problem really about?
  • Do you know what each employee thinks about the problem?
  • Have you all worked together to come up with possible solutions?
  • Is everyone’s voice listened to and given equal weight?
  • Does everyone know how to listen to other points of view?
  • Can people deal with conflict without escalating?
  • Is conflict an opportunity for change in your workplace?
  • How are your communication skills?
  • Do you have a consistent system for resolving conflict?
  • Do you ask for help from neutral, uninvolved third parties?

Team building and conflict resolution in the workplace depend on you as a leader. You decide whether your workplace advances without direction or follows a more productive path. Consider the following ideas for your workplace:

  • Develop a clear, concise conflict resolution strategy that is taught and followed at all levels.
  • Build productive, two-way communication skills by teaching your employees how to communicate effectively.
  • Highlight the importance of listening skills and teach everyone how to listen to each other.
  • Practice team building by giving everyone the framework and tools to collaborate.
  • Set a positive example by behaving in ways that support team building, conflict resolution and collaboration.

These concepts help leaders and organizations resolve conflicts more effectively and build happier organizations. The only catch is that they take commitment but, those who take the plunge and build up these core skills, enjoy long-term health and success.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and help your teams reduce conflict?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness, Leadership, and Learning from Workplace Conflict - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness, Leadership, and Learning from Workplace Conflict

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Many leaders who lack self-awareness spend their workdays putting out fires and reacting to whatever conflict comes their way rather than learning from it and trying to prevent it. They also tend to focus on superficial issues rather than addressing the underlying situation. Think about the last time you had a disagreement with someone at work. What was it about? Did you fix it? Did it go away permanently? Ask yourself the following questions as you develop self-awareness and discover what you can learn from conflict in the workplace:

  • What is this conflict really about?
  • What am I feeling inside and where does that come from?
  • Do I really care about the superficial issue or is it really about something else?
  • What is it about me that compels me to fight about this?
  • What do I need to do to fix this situation with the other person?

When you ask yourself questions like these, you begin the process of understanding yourself. It is this self-awareness that helps you figure out who you are at a deeper level and practice positive behaviors that help you and others succeed. The idea is to make sure that your own stuff isn’t creating or adding to the conflict.

We spend so much time fighting about things that are only the tip of the real problem that lies below. Think about it next time you get angry or upset and ask yourself, “Am I really mad about an employee doing something incorrectly or is it really because of something going on inside me?”

Once you figure out what’s really going on you can begin doing the important work to actually improve your workplace interactions and reduce conflict permanently. More importantly, you’ll be practicing how to not become part of the problem.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and learn from workplace conflict?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Why Leaders Should Care about Diversity - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Why Leaders Should Care about Diversity

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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 and Promoting Excellent Communication in the Workplace - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Promoting Excellent Communication in the Workplace

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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

Using Self-Awareness to Communicate More Effectively - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Using Self-Awareness to Communicate More Effectively

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You can use self-awareness to communicate more effectively because, when you understand and can positively manage your and others’ emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, you’re more adept at chatting with people.

We all are capable of communicating effectively, we just haven’t learned how to actually do it. Here are some basic tips on how to get started.

1. Set up an atmosphere for communicating. Everyone gets to say what they want, nobody is punished, everyone is safe to say what they want with no fear of retribution.

2. Everyone agrees to listen and only person talks at a time. When someone speaks other people simply listen. There should be no advice giving, rebuttals or contradicting. Everyone gets a chance to say what they want.

3. Everyone agrees that there is no such thing as a wrong comment or dumb question.

4. Everyone agrees to talk about the same amount of time. No one person monopolizes the conversation. No one person is more important than another.

5. We agree to communicate with each other respectfully, with a calm tone of voice, without harsh language and with no derogatory comments.

6. We agree that any information that is communicated will not be used against someone or to make them feel bad.

7. Keep it simple. Say what you mean, say it briefly and constructively.

8. Leave any personal agendas out of the meeting.

9. Keep it positive. Communication ideally builds a positive atmosphere that promotes solutions rather than only gripe sessions.

Once you follow all of these ideas, you will be on your way to communicating effectively. Each one takes practice and commitment from all parties involved. Practice each one (one at a time) until you master it. When you have mastered all of them you will experience the peace of mind that comes from communicating in a healthy way.

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

Cheers,

Guy

Business Consulting That Builds Self-Awareness - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Business Consulting That Builds Self-Awareness

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Business consulting based on self-awareness can help you improve yourself and your business by helping you focus your energy and talent on things that will help you take your business to the next level. I help executives, managers and companies develop self-awareness, improve staff morale, increase productivity, build stronger teams and practice excellent workplace communications. I help managers to help them delegate more effectively and give their staff the opportunity to grow and excel. I help business owners focus their vision and take action on their goals.

Successful business owners know that when their employees feel their skills and abilities are being recognized and utilized the business benefits from a more productive workforce. Skilled managers understand that a happy workforce reduces turnover and hiring costs. I enjoy working with businesses to help them identify their employees strengths and use their talents.

The consulting services I provide include:

Self-Awareness Consulting for Individuals: Targeted support for leaders and staff to help improve specific situations. Helping individuals clarify what is happening in the situation and develop strategies to meet the challenge. Individuals build on their own strengths and devise their own plans of action with the support and encouragement of a coach.

Self-Awareness Consulting for Groups: Working intensively with staff to build a shared culture and purpose. Building stronger interpersonal connections through ongoing skill building. Monitoring participant progress and promoting accountability by encouraging participants to meet their goals and plan for the present and future.

Self-Awareness Consulting to Increase Success: Supportive partnering to identify areas of interest, barriers to achievement and areas of strength. Building clearer goals and devising specific strategies to reach those goals. Developing a clearer vision of where you are going and how you will get there.

Businesses benefit from having an impartial outside person help leaders and staff individually and in small groups to build skills and achieve goals. My self-awareness consulting services are an ongoing process that helps the individual clarify what she wants to accomplish and helps her achieve it through strategic support and accountability. My consulting is individualized and focuses on promoting successful behaviors that create change over time.

What will you do to increase self-awareness in your organization?

Cheers,

Guy

Do You Limit Your Self-Awareness? - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Do You Limit Your Self-Awareness?

/ / Self and Self-Awareness, Self-Awareness / , , , ,

A lot of people limit their self-awareness because they’re afraid of looking at their hurts and admitting that they might benefit from making some changes. Here are some examples of thoughts and actions that hinder self-awareness:

  • The belief that you don’t have to work on yourself.
  • Thinking that you’re just fine as is, even when everything is crumbling around you.
  • Saying you don’t have time for all that touchy-feely stuff.
  • Acting like you know everything.
  • Living superficially.
  • Refusing to examine the things you might want to improve so you can become a more effective version of you.
  • Trying to control things so people won’t find out how insecure you are.
  • Not wanting to go to therapy.
  • Living life reactively instead of proactively.
  • Doing the same thing you’ve always done.
  • The belief that life is hard and you can’t do anything to change it.
  • Fear of change.

A lot of people stay stuck because they refuse to take an honest look at themselves and learn about what would help them move forward. They literally live their entire lives being miserable. The good news is that you don’t have to be unhappy, just work on figuring out who you are and you’ll be on your way to enjoying a self-aware life.

Cheers,

Guy

The Self-Awareness Guy