Have you ever caught yourself reacting to a situation and wondered, “Why did I do that?” or “Where did that emotion come from?” I sure have.
These little flashes of insight, which are so easily overlooked, are glimpses into something incredibly powerful: self-awareness. At its very core, self-awareness is about understanding who we are – our thoughts, emotions, motivations, and behaviours – and, just as importantly, recognizing how they influence the people around us.
In my view, self-awareness is the very first step to meaningful personal development and can be an absolute game changer in business settings, where the ability to reflect on your own strengths, weaknesses, and impact on others can, and will, set you apart as a leader.
To really understand and maximise the SuperPower of self-awareness, I recommend understanding these four forms of it because each offers a different lens into understanding ourselves:
- Intrapersonal Self-Awareness
This is your internal dialogue – your thoughts, your values, and your beliefs. Becoming attuned to the workings of your own mind helps you make decisions that are aligned with your core values while also allowing you to be more authentic in your interactions with others. - Interpersonal Self-Awareness
This involves an understanding of how you connect with others and, in turn, how they perceive you. Recognizing your communication style and the effect you have on people is the first steps towards communicating with clarity and preventing misunderstandings which in turn strengthens relationships. - Behavioural Self-Awareness
Actions speak louder than words, right? Behavioural self-awareness is about observing yourself and noticing how it is you act under different circumstances. This leads to greater understanding of what drives those actions. Of course this insight informs your future behaviours, especially creating habits that serve your goals rather than sabotage them. - Emotional Self-Awareness
Ever felt an emotion but couldn’t quite name it? Emotional self-awareness means recognizing your feelings as they arise, giving them a name, understanding what has triggered the specific emotion and using that knowledge to positively self-regulate. All about using the knowledge to manage your emotions in a healthy way. Emotional self-awareness is crucial for your own emotional resilience and being able to express empathy towards others.
Lots to think about here – look out for next weeks piece providing practical tips for developing each different form of self-awareness.
Curious about diving deeper into these four realms and transforming your personal and professional life? I’d love to connect. Feel free to reach out and let’s explore how self-awareness can become your superpower!