Self-awareness involves understanding ourselves objectively, recognizing how others perceive us, and grasping our place withing the broader context of the world. Self-awareness plays a key role in career success. Research shows that individuals with strong self-awareness tend to be more confident in their roles, build better relationships, achieve higher performance, and lead more effectively and with greater fulfillment (Carden, Jones, Passmore, 2022).
A variety of cognitive, emotional, and sensory exercises can support the development of self-awareness. In their systematic review, Carden, Jones, and Passmore (2022) outline several key approaches:
- Mindfulness serves as a valuable practice for becoming aware of our internal experiences including thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations (London, Sessa, & Shelly, 2023). This can be achieved through practices such as mediation and breathing exercises.
- Engaging in self-reflection activities can help you explore how your personal values and beliefs influence your sense of identity. The values card sort activity is a popular values activity that can be achieved by reflecting the values that are 10 most important to you; 10 somewhat important to you; and 10 not important to you.
- The 360-degree feedback profiling tool offers valuable insights into how others perceive your behavior and impact, in addition to helping you better understand your influence on those around you. This process includes gathering feedback from a diverse group of individuals, including supervisors, colleagues, and direct reports.
- Experiential learning is a powerful method for cultivating self-awareness, as it encourages observation, self-evaluation, and reflection. Its impact can be enhanced when combined with the 360-degree feedback tool, offering a more comprehensive understanding of personal behavior and influence.
Strengthening self-awareness can transform how you show up at work and in life. If you’d like support exploring your strengths, values, or the next step in your career, our advisors are here to help. 📅 Book a consultation anytime — we’d love to support you.
References:
Berkout O. V. (2021). Working With Values: An Overview of Approaches and Considerations in Implementation. Behavior analysis in practice, 15(1), 104–114. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-021-00589-1
Carden, J., Jones, R. J., & Passmore, J. (2022). Defining self-awareness in the context of adult development: A systematic literature review. Journal of management education, 46(1), 140-177.
London, M., Sessa, V. I., & Shelley, L. A. (2023). Developing self-awareness: Learning processes for self-and interpersonal growth. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 10(2023), 261-288.
