What is self awareness at work?

Self awareness at work is the ability to understand your values, strengths, weaknesses, emotions and the impact your behaviour has on others. It is the know thyself mindset that underpins good leadership and emotional intelligence.

Why is self awareness important for my career?

Self awareness helps you make better decisions, recognise your biases, build stronger relationships and manage conflict more effectively. Research shows that highly self aware professionals outperform their peers and are more effective leaders.

How can I practice self awareness at work?

You can practise self awareness by seeking honest feedback, reflecting and journalling about your day, noticing patterns in your reactions and using mindfulness to pay attention to your thoughts and feelings without judgement.

How does Women of Our Time support women to build self awareness?

Women of Our Time offers a free one to one service, workshops and practical products that provide information, advice and guidance to help women develop self awareness, emotional intelligence and personal leadership skills at work.

The Power of Self-Awareness at Work: The 21st Century Meta-Skill

Women of our Time
Sep 25
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Diverse group of women illustrated with various hair colors and styles. Text "Women of Our Time" in a speech bubble above. Empowering mood.

The Power of Self-Awareness: The "Know Thyself" Mindset

We live in a fast-paced world where we are often focused on what's happening around us, but one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional growth is looking inward.

The Self-Awareness mindset:

often encapsulated by the ancient Greek maxim "Know Thyself," is about having a clear and objective understanding of your own character, feelings, motives, and desires.

Self-awareness is described in the AMOC leadership report as "the 21st century meta skill". Good leaders are emotionally intelligent and understand the impact they have both inside and outside their organisation.

The report defines self-awareness at work as: "Fully knowing who they are as people—their values, passions, goals, personality, strengths and weaknesses—and understanding how others perceive them". This provides a strong foundation for leaders to face challenges.

By reflecting on their experiences, the leaders in the report were able to adapt their own behaviors, challenge long-held beliefs, and admit they didn't have all the answers. In essence, self-aware leaders are happy to have their beliefs challenged and reflect on their actions

Why Self-Awareness Matters

While many of us believe we are self-aware, research by organisational psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich reveals a surprising truth: only 10-15% of people are truly self-aware. The data shows that professionals with high self-awareness outperform their peers by up to 30%. It’s a foundational skill for building self-belief and courage because it helps you to:

Make Better Decisions: By understanding your own biases and beliefs, you can make more objective and strategic choices.
Build Stronger Relationships: Being aware of how your actions and communication style are perceived by others allows you to build stronger connections and navigate conflict more effectively. Teams with self-aware members have 50% fewer interpersonal conflicts and complete projects 25% faster.
Boost Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness is the first step in emotional intelligence. When you can recognise and manage your own emotions, you are better equipped to understand and respond to the emotions of others.

The benefits are clear: self-aware people are more fulfilled, confident, and effective leaders.

How to Practice Self-Awareness at Work

Self-awareness isn't a fixed trait; it's a skill you can develop. Here's how to start practising it:

Seek Feedback: Actively ask for honest and constructive feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors. A "360-degree review" can help you identify blind spots and understand how others perceive you.
Reflect and Journal: Take time to reflect on your day. Instead of asking "why" something happened, ask "what" you can do differently next time. Journaling about your thoughts and feelings can help you spot patterns and triggers.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Practising mindfulness and meditation can help you become more attuned to your thoughts and feelings in the present moment, allowing you to observe them without judgment.

Self-awareness is the first step in taking personal leadership of your career journey. It’s a matter of choice to commit to this continuous process of learning and growth.

We know that this journey isn't always easy, but at Women of Our Time, we're here to help. We offer a free 1-2-1 service, access to workshops, and other products designed to support you every step of the way.

You Don’t Have to Face This Alone

Ready to take control of your financial future? Click here to explore how we can help you. With empowered action, The Women of Our Time Team. P.S. Know someone who could use a confidence boost with their money? Share this blog post with them. Let’s lift each other up and create a brighter future together.