Work Environment and Self-Awareness

Self Awareness and Saying I'm Sorry - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self Awareness and Saying I’m Sorry

/ / Self-Awareness, Self-Consciousness / , , , , , , ,

The ability to say, “I’m sorry,” is a big part of self-awareness. Countless misunderstandings and conflicts arise because people are unwilling to back down or admit that they made a mistake. The irony is that, in trying to avoid being wrong, people make the situation worse. When something goes awry, it’s much more productive to think in these types of terms:

  • There’s nothing wrong with making a mistake.
  • You don’t have to be right all the time to be a good person.
  • It’s positive to take the other person’s feelings into account.
  • You can learn and grow by examining what you did.
  • You don’t have to win.
  • You don’t have to save face.
  • Admitting you made a mistake is a positive sign of self-awareness.
  • You take responsibility for your actions and how they affect others.
  • You’re healthy enough to not have to dominate or control others.

Saying, “I’m sorry,” doesn’t mean that you let people step all over you, it’s simply an acknowledgement that you’re willing and able to reflect on what you did and work on improving the situation. Self-awareness allows you to step back, evaluate your thoughts and behaviors, take responsibility, and make corrections. What will you do to say, “I’m sorry,” more freely?

Cheers,

Guy

Kind, Self-Aware People Can Change the World - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Kind, Self-Aware People Can Change the World

/ / Self-Awareness / , , , ,

I’ve consulted for a lot of people in leadership positions and I’ve noticed that many genuinely believe they have to be stern and authoritarian instead of being kind. It’s like they lack any self-awareness about how they affect others. This harsh approach is the result of being sold the narrative that you have to be a hard-charging bully to get anything done, the punitive approach to leadership. We even routinely reward people who do unsavory things, including hurting others.

My modest proposal would be to gradually shift from encouraging harsh behavior to celebrating self-awareness and kindness. There is nothing a severe person can accomplish that a kind person can’t. You can treat people really well and still get amazing results in your personal or professional life. You can do things that uplift others and help build a more beneficial world for everyone.

Kindness is a valuable tool that can inspire and motivate the people around you. The proof is that individuals respond much more positively to praise than they do to criticism or punishment. Praise encourages people to try harder while punishment leads to doing whatever is necessary to avoid more punishment. Our current behavioral model for our personal and professional lives is punitive. What if we shifted to being kind to each other? It might even lead to (gasp) people feeling good about themselves.

If you’re a kind person, keep doing it. You’re a vital resource and a valuable example for the individuals around you. At very least, you demonstrate that people don’t have to be punitive and harsh and that there’s another, more positive alternative. I love consulting for people who value self-awareness because they know how to treat others with empathy and care.

What will you do to develop self-awareness and promote kindness in the world?

Cheers,

Guy

Building a Culture of Workplace Self-Awareness and Team Building - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Building a Culture of Workplace Self-Awareness and Team Building

/ / Self-Awareness in Leadership / , , ,

Genuine team building goes beyond the occasional bonding activity or retreat to establishing a culture that encourages self-awareness, rewards collaboration, and teaches everyone in your workplace how to build and participate in cohesive teams. Here are five ideas to keep in mind as you begin creating a culture of self-awareness and team building in your organization:

  1. Team building flows from the top. Leaders who practice self-awareness set a positive example of how to behave in the workplace. They show employees the organization is genuinely interested in building healthy teams by actively setting up and participating in an ongoing program.
  1. Team building is a company value. You get to choose what your organization values and what it doesn’t and whether people in the organization work against each other or collaborate. You decide what behaviors are acceptable and encouraged in your workplace.
  1. Train the trainer. Set aside the time and resources to train people at all levels of the organizations who then train their particular departments until all employees have the knowledge to practice effective team building.
  1. Schedule regular time for team building activities. You show your employees that team building is a priority by establishing a weekly stand-alone activity that doesn’t have to share space with other meetings and is attended by people at all levels.
  1. Team building is about celebrating your employees. Design team building activities where leaders and employees can connect on a deeper level, build meaningful relationships and praise each other in public.

As a leader, you decide what kind of work environment you create and whether you commit long-term to making it easier for your employees to come together and work collaboratively. What will you do to support a culture of self-awareness and team building in your organization?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Reducing Workplace Conflict - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Reducing Workplace Conflict

/ / Self-Awareness / , , , , ,

When you have a high degree of self-awareness you’re able to reduce workplace conflict by being part of the solution rather than instigating or perpetuating it. Here are some characteristics you likely possess if you’re a person who lessens conflict:

  • You view conflict as an opportunity for everyone to get on the same page and win.
  • You understand that conflict is a signal that something needs attention.
  • You know what triggers conflict inside you and are able to manage it.
  • You consciously decide to think, feel and behave positively when conflict arises.
  • You make it easier to find solutions to the conflict.
  • You act in good faith.
  • You don’t perpetuate the conflict by taking sides.
  • You’re not followed by conflict wherever you go.
  • You don’t need to prove anything.
  • You don’t have to be on top of people.

The more you know yourself the less conflict you invite into your life because, when you’re happy with who you are, you tend to do things that help others do the same instead of perpetuating behaviors that cultivate conflict. What will you do to reduce the amount of conflict in your workplace?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Awareness and Facing Difficult Issues - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Awareness and Facing Difficult Issues

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

If you possess a high level of self-awareness, you’re probably used to facing difficult issues head on. Many people fall into the trap of pretending that things are going well or avoiding challenging situations at all costs, which leads to constantly having to suppress unresolved issues and trying to fill the resulting void. Here are some things to think about if you’re hesitant to deal with dilemmas:

  • You can handle any issue in your life.
  • You don’t have to take everything on at once.
  • You don’t have to repeat the patterns in your past.
  • You can change.
  • You can move in a positive direction any time you choose.
  • You can take one small step today toward dealing with the issue.
  • You can keep taking small steps.
  • You can adjust your approach as needed.

The only way to truly grow as a person is to consciously decide to stop doing things that don’t work. Building self-awareness means getting to know yourself well at every level and having the courage to resolve thorny situations. Anyone can avoid challenges, what will you do to face your issues directly?

Cheers,

Guy

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

Self-Awareness and Being Whole

/ / Self-Awareness / , , , , ,

One of the major benefits of increasing your self-awareness is that you get to live life whole, as in:

  • You know who you really are deep inside.
  • You honor your inner voice.
  • You follow your dreams.
  • The various parts of your personality are in harmony with each other.
  • Your actions are consistent with your thoughts.
  • You are actually happy and healthy inside, not just pretending in order to not show weakness or conform to what someone else is expecting.
  • You look inside for answers.
  • You trust that you’re the best guide for your life.
  • You deal well with your entire range of emotions.
  • No one part of your personality, thoughts, or actions dominates your life.
  • You believe there is such a thing as happiness.
  • You’re following your dreams, the real ones, not the ones you pretend are your dreams.
  • You surround yourself with interesting, healthy people.

Being whole means living a completely authentic life. It doesn’t require being perfect, just that you be yourself. What will you do to work on being whole?

Cheers,

Guy

Self-Aware Leaders Are More Happy at Work - On Developing Self-Awareness and Being Self-Aware

Self-Aware Leaders Are More Happy at Work

/ / Self and Self-Awareness / , , ,

Self-aware leaders are more happy at work because they are in touch with and are able to positively manage their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. They know how to be happy within themselves and are able to help others do the same, which leads to healthier workplaces.

When I train leaders, the concept of being happy at work often comes up. People want to be happy and enjoy their work lives on a deeper level because it makes them feel more well-rounded and satisfied. The challenge is to find a way to take the goal of being happy and actually do things to achieve it.

The concept of happiness is different for each person but there are some basic things you can do to create a life that is self-aware, fulfilling, and rewarding.

  1. Be yourself. Look deep inside yourself and make sure you’re always behaving in ways that are consistent with what you feel and believe at your core.
  2. Do what you love. Identify what it is that you love doing more than anything in life and do it at work and everywhere.
  3. Connect with supportive people. Surround yourself with people who love you for who you are and appreciate your amazing talents and gifts.
  4. Love your work and spread that feeling. When you do what you really love doing it becomes fun instead of work and it helps you spread the same energy to others.
  5. Take care of yourself. Remember to celebrate and praise yourself often and focus on your achievements.

Try these five ideas and observe how you feel about yourself along the way. The key to being happy at work is often closer than you think and you can find it by simply remembering to honor who you are. What will you do to develop self-awareness and actually be happy at work?

Cheers,

Guy

The Self-Awareness Guy