Understanding oneself is essential for development as an individual, a leader, and a colleague. Self-awareness is about being aware of our own behaviors, needs, reactions and understanding how these affect other people. People with high self-awareness communicate more clearly, collaborate more effectively, and make more conscious decisions.
But self-awareness is not something we simply posses, it is something we develop. It requires courage, reflection, and curiosity. Here are five practical tips that help you get started or deepen your self-awareness.
1. Stop and Reflect
How often do you take time to think about why you act the way you do? Self-awareness begins with reflection. Through regular pausing and thinking about what gave you energy or drained it during a day, the more aware you become of your needs and behavioral patterns. Small reflections can make a big difference over time.
2. Reflect on your collaboration and decision-making styles
How do you communicate with others? How do you perceive risk? How do you react to change? And, how do you make decisions? Self-awareness is not just about understanding yourself, but also about understanding how you interact with others. By reflecting on these aspects, you gain insight into both strengths and potential risks, for example, if you tend to make quick decisions, avoid conflict, or communicate in a way that may be interpreted as unclear or overly direct.
3. Observe yourself in challenging situations
It is easy to be your best self when things go smoothly, but things can look very differently when you are under pressure. How do you handle conflicts, change, or when things don't go as planned? Through observing your reactions in tough situations, you begin to recognize patterns that are otherwise easily overlooked, but often impact both yourself and others more than you realize.
4. Compare your self-image with how others perceive you.
We all have an idea of how we are, but how does it align with how others perceive us? Self-awareness grows in dialogue. Ask for concrete feedback from a colleague, manager, or mentor, preferably linked to specific situations. How were you perceived in that meeting, project or discussion? Listening to other's perspectives can lead to uncovering blind spots and seeing yourself in a new light.
5. Identify your strengths and put them into action
What are you proud of in your working style? What do you often receive praise for? Is there anything you want to adjust or strengthen? Self-awareness becomes valuable when you understand how it can lead to growth. Reflect on what specific behaviors you want to adjust or try out next time you lead a meeting, handle a conflict, or delegate tasks.
Why self-awareness makes a difference
Self-awareness makes it possible to act with better intention. It becomes easier to understand why some situations feel effortless and why others drain energy. You can take full advantage of your strengths while finding ways to manage the areas that might otherwise create friction.
This is all especially important for managers. Those who understand themselves better are greater equipped to lead others. For teams, this means better understanding, greater collaboration, and deeper trust.
Increased self-awareness requires reflection, and sometimes also structure and language. This is where PI can be a valuable support. Through clarifying your drives and work-related behaviors, you get an objective mirror of what motivates you, how you act, and how it may be perceived by others. It provides a foundation for greater understanding and real development.
Would you like support in getting started with this? Reach out to us at info@predictio.com and we'll tell you more. There are exercises and discussion tools that can assist you in reflecting more systematically, both individually and together with others.
