How To Become Self Aware
Being self-aware is a demonstration of one’s “ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values” along with the ability to understand how they impact their own behavior.(1) Additionally, self-awareness encompasses an individual’s ability to accurately assess one’s own strengths and limitations, establish self confidence, optimism, and a ‘growth mindset.’ Self-awareness is the foundation for success in life, work, and relationships.
But, how do you become self aware??
One way is to do consistent and constant check-in’s with yourself around your thoughts, emotions, actions, and feelings. Individuals who journal, meditate, or take time for deep conversations with themselves or confidents often have greater self awareness. Doing these types of ‘thought downloads’ are a great way to refine your actions and behaviors to improve all aspects of your life as well as develop a deeper sense of self-confidence. Note: self confidence comes from knowing where your strengths lie, as well as knowing what weakness you should improve upon. This can be practiced with self-praise whenever you achieve success, as well as treating mistakes as an opportunity to transform or motivation to improve.
There are also many tools in the marketplace for self-assessment to learn more about your personality and innate strengths. Two assessments I prefer are CliftonStrengths® and the Enneagram. Both offer a powerful combination of questions to derive your innate talent and drive.
What is CliftonStrengths?
CliftonStrengths is an online assessment that helps individuals identify, understand, and maximize their strengths. The test ranks your top areas of talent within 34 different talent themes and four talent categories. By understanding your top areas of talent, you can use them and optimize better performance. Its origin dates back over 50 years ago when Dr. Donald Clifton researched and identified traits that produce great performance. Clifton StrengthsFinder is now used by organizations large and small, including 90% of Fortune 500 companies.
What is the Enneagram?
The Enneagram describes nine core drives of the human race. Its name comes from the Greek words ennea meaning “nine,” and gram meaning “figure.” By understanding your primary drive, you can become healthier and more ‘whole’. The origins date back to the fourth century as a psycho-spiritual tool for personal growth. It has no owner and has been used and passed down through the generations. Today the Enneagram is being used by organizations like Stanford Business School, Disney, Salesforce, CIA, Kaiser Permanente, and the Federal Reserve System.
What’s the Intersection?
CliftonStrengths shows what you’re good at, while the Enneagram shows what your internal motivation is. How you live out your strengths is influenced by your drive. Studies have shown that there appears to be no correlation between strengths and drive, that is, you cannot predict a person’s strengths by knowing his drive because strengths and drives are serve different purposes within your life. But, you can understand what innate forces empower your drive and what strengths give momentum to your motivation. In other words, your strengths power your drive and your drive is the direction you’re heading.
People are exceedingly fascinating to me, which is why I’ve made them my work. Taken apart or paired together, the research of CliftonStrengths and the wisdom of the Enneagram can create the opportunity to have amazing things about yourself be discovered. This duo is a powerful combination of talent and drive, leading to whole-self health and success.
Book an individual Executive Coaching session with me or an Organizational Team Retreat and I can lead you through your own test results and how to apply your drive and strengths to maximize on your goals.
