selfawareness-futureproofing yourself

When bots can do our taxes, virtual assistants help us schedule meetings, teach a kid how to code, help us create our own images, do our research papers and the list goes on and on ..we need to step up our game. You cannot stop evolution and what is happening right now is a revolution. But what we can do is to excel in our ability to be human. We have worked so hard to industrialize our office work into lean processes and rules that it almost seams as if it is aimed for dehumanizing people in the system. Ironically the one thing we've tried to remove is the one skill that we need to develop and be even more mindful of. Being human at the office means understanding who we are, how we come across and how to relate to one another. In short being self aware. According to research by Dr Tasha Eurich, author of the book insight, self-awareness is one of the fundamental strengths in the future yet there are only 10% of us that are. She calls them self awareness unicorns. I work on becoming one of them, and to spread the message! This weeks presentation is about a hands on psychological model that you can use, starting today.

What is self-awareness?

According to Dr Tasha Eurich, author of Insight , self-awareness is “the ability to recognize your own needs and emotions, independent from outside influence.” It's a self-guided exploration of the way you conduct yourself — it's an understanding that life isn’t a straight line heading towards some goal. It's a never-ending journey that we are all on, with a changing destination and evolving goals.

So what exactly does self-awareness mean? It's a concept that was first developed by Carl Rogers in 1970, when he defined it as "the capacity for introspection and the ability to take the role of another person." In other words, it's the ability to step outside yourself and see your own behavior from another perspective—not just from your own perspective!

Why Self-awareness?

Recognizing your own motivations and emotions can help you better understand other people's.

And understanding others is crucial for success in any field—whether you're trying to communicate with them more effectively or just understand why they act the way they do so you can predict them better and make better decisions based on.

So how do you gain perspective?

One model that I've used in my workshops is the Johari window. A really easy to grasp model, but superuseful when working on understanding yourself and how you are perceived.

Imagine the Johari Window as a friendly, yet insightful, game of "Know Thyself Bingo." It's a psychological tool designed to help you and others understand your interpersonal relationships and self-awareness. Picture a window with four panes, each representing a different aspect of your personality.

1.     The Open Pane: This is the "public you," the part that both you and others can see. It's like the front yard of your personality, where you host friendly barbecues and wave to the neighbors.

2.     The Blind Spot: You know those embarrassing moments when spinach is stuck in your teeth, and nobody tells you? That's your blind spot. It's the part of your personality that others can see but you can't. Obtaining honest feedback from others can help you discover and address these blind spots.

3.     The Hidden Pane: This is your "secret garden." It's where you keep your feelings, thoughts, and experiences that you're not ready to share with others. By gradually opening up and building trust, you can share more of your hidden pane with others, which leads to better relationships.

4.     The Unknown Pane: This is the "mysterious forest" of your personality, where neither you nor others have ventured. It contains undiscovered talents, fears, and feelings. Self-discovery, feedback from others, and new experiences can help you uncover and explore this uncharted territory.

The goal of the Johari Window is to expand your Open Pane by reducing your Blind Spot, sharing your Hidden Pane, and venturing into the Unknown Pane. By doing so, you'll become more self-aware, improve your relationships, and maybe even find a hidden talent, like the ability to play the ukulele or create a mean guacamole!

How to:

So once you've gain some perspective and understanding I strongly recommend that you keep working on your inisghts. Some way to do so could be:

Mindfulness meditation involves focusing on the present moment and observing your thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help you become more aware of how your thoughts affect what you do—and vice versa!

Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you gain clarity and insight into your motivations and behavior patterns.

Seeking feedback: Ask trusted friends or family members for feedback on your behavior and how they perceive you. This can help you identify blind spots and areas for improvement.

Trying new experiences: Stepping outside of your comfort zone and trying new things can help you learn more about yourself and your preferences.

Practicing self-reflection: Take time to reflect on your experiences, behavior, and emotions. Ask yourself why you acted a certain way and what you can learn from the situation.

Remember: The path to greater self-awareness is a continuous journey, not a destination. It takes time and effort, but the benefits will be worth it!