How can you develop self-awareness when problem solving?

It may be counterintuitive but if we want to be self-aware when we encounter a problem… we better learn to be aware in everyday life wether there is a problem or not. It is like swimming… it may be more difficult to learn to swim when the ocean is agitated. A daily exercice may be to stop in a pleasant moment and observe body sensations / emotions / thoughts. Another one to scan the body and becoming aware of its sensations…

Time to reflect is so important because it helps us to be less reactive. In this fast paced world that we live in making time to just stop and think can help us to be far more emotionally intelligent.

First step- Monitor you breath without trying to change anything. Just monitor. after 3 to 5 rounds of the breath the anxiety will reduce. After 5 - 8 reound of the breath, the respiratory center in the brain will reset. The offending thoughts will become clearer. 11-12 breaths later the blood chemistry changes. And the solutions will surface from the unconscious mind. Do htis sequence as often as possible. In the case of panic, retroflex the tongue or for an immediate response, stick the tongue out as long as possible and GENTLY! clamp (bite) down on the tongue. Cover your teeth with upper and lower lips. After this immediate arrest of the situation, you will know what to do.

Know thyself from all your years of experiences that have allowed you to know who you are in all respects. Do you have strong self-confidence in your decisions? How do you interact with other people…with respect, without denigrating other opinions that do not meet your standards? Do you feel you are a good person inside and out? Are you sensitive and kind to others? Do you make suggestions that are meant to be fruitful for everyone, not just to put the spotlight on yourself? These are questions to help you evaluate your self-awareness. Problem-solving involves you, and, yet, is not solely about you. On the other-hand, it establishes who you are as a problem solver for the best for everyone. It also wins your team at home & in business.

In my experience as a stress management therapist and an emotional intelligence coach - emotions rule the roost! Emotions are a survival response, they happens faster than the brains logic processor. So the skill is in catching and labelling rogue emotions quickly. This strategy helps us to separate ourselves from the emotional chaos. Secondly it allows us to reflect, analyse and transform emotions into something more useful. We have the power to break the vicious cycle between emotions thoughts and actions. But this can only happen once we label emotions and enable the 'smart' brain to do its thing. By naming emotions, we create reflective space and distance. This makes room for more rational thinking and less emotional reactivity.

Firstly, when seeking feedback, it's crucial to selectively choose 'who' to ask. Because you can unwittingly trigger your body's defense mechanism. So its really important to surround yourself with three sets of people. 1) Those who encourage and support you. 2) Critical thinkers who challenge your ideas constructively. And 3) experts who offer specialized knowledge. This triangle of "wise counsel" ensures you take on board diverse perspectives. Supporters boost confidence. Critical thinkers promote growth by pointing out your blind spots. And experts guide with their experience. This approach balances positive reinforcement with constructive criticism. Providing a well-rounded springboard for personal and professional growth.

When asking for feedback, ask it with curiosity, not hoping for confirmation of your strengths. If you knew what you needed to improve, you wouldn't ask for feedback, in the first place. So, whatever comes your way, be prepared to take the feedback to heart, and think it through. Ask for clarifications if needed, follow-up on the things that you did not get well explained, but never discard feedback. All feedback is good feedback. And study yourself throughout the process. What did you learn. How did you react? What was most surprising? What made your heart flutter? What made you scared? And why? Each step of the way ask yourself, why? Why did I feel that way, why did I react that way?

Asking for feedback reflects self-awareness by acknowledging the potential for personal growth and recognizing that others' perspectives provide valuable insights. This process also demonstrates problem-solving skills as it involves actively addressing and finding solutions for identified challenges. For example, inquiring about feedback from a friend/family member/partner regarding communication dynamics shows self-awareness. If they mention a need for more empathy, problem-solving involves learning about empathy, practicing it consciously, and discussing progress with your friend/family member/partner.

Um dein Selbstbewusstsein zu st?rken, suche aktiv nach Feedback von Personen, die in deinen Probleml?sungsprozess involviert sind oder davon betroffen sind. Fordere sie auf, ihre Meinungen, Beobachtungen und Vorschl?ge zu deinem Umgang mit Situationen sowie deinen F?higkeiten in Kommunikation, Zusammenarbeit, Kreativit?t und kritischem Denken zu teilen. Feedback liefert neue Perspektiven, Erkenntnisse und Ideen, die dein Lernen und dein pers?nliches Wachstum f?rdern und dir helfen, deine Herangehensweisen und F?higkeiten kontinuierlich zu verbessern.

I agree that feedback (and using that feedback to improve) is important. Some skill needs to be developed in how and when to request it and then, in how to interpret and incorporate it into your own unique expression. If, having requested feedback, what we hear is filtered through self perceptions that are skewed,it will evoke responses that are less helpful. This is where remaining grounded and tuned in to one’s own responses is invaluable.

Good frameworks and acronyms provide a structured approach that simplify and aid decision-making. The more memorable the better! As acronyms serve as a mental shortcut. But remember the value of visual frameworks, like pyramids, squares, or circles. They enhance memory retention and understanding ...making it more digestible and easier to recall. The most well-known business frameworks are SWOT analysis and the GROW framework. But have you tried any of these? 1) the Johari window to improve self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, and group dynamics. 2) The Eisenhower matrix (urgent-non urgent) which helps you prioritise tasks into -Do, Decide, Delegate, or Delete. 3) Or the '5 Whys' to help reveal the root causes of an issue.

A framework can be extremely helpful. I also coach my community to have a variety for different situations. But a framework can be something as simple as taking a deep breath and counting to 3 before responding, saving your initial solution and coming back to review it after a certain amount of time, or referring to your vision/mission/desired outcome before taking the next steps.

Using a framework can be very helpful, if done right. SWOT analysis for example, has to be put into perspective. Simply listing all Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats of a company, in isolation, will not lead you anywhere. You have to start with the external factors, and then link them with the internal ones. How do they interplay. Do some Opportunities get enhanced by specific strengths, do some weaknesses get mitigated by others, etc.? Also, you don't have to fill the framework yourself, not if you're the CEO, nor the consultant who was paid to do the job. You need to make sure that the people who can best assess the situation, both internally and externally will make the last call to what gets shortlisted on your proposal.

The best strategic way to solve problems is by using frameworks to assist any situation to come up with the best solutions. One framework I always use is the root cause analysis which is easier for me.

Ein Framework kann deinen Probleml?sungsprozess strukturieren und dein Handeln lenken. Bew?hrte Modelle wie SMART (Spezifisch, Messbar, Erreichbar, Relevant, Zeitgebunden), SWOT (St?rken, Schw?chen, Chancen, Risiken) oder PDCA (Planen, Machen, Prüfen, Handeln) bieten Struktur und Orientierung. Durch die Anwendung eines Frameworks kannst du klare Ziele setzen, deine Situation analysieren, Optionen abw?gen und Ergebnisse effektiv bewerten, was zur Entwicklung deines Selbstbewusstseins beitr?gt.

You can also use mindfulness to identify the causes, by examining your assumptions, biases, and emotions that may influence your perception of the problem. You can also use mindfulness to generate alternatives, by brainstorming different ideas, perspectives, and solutions, and being open to feedback and criticism

I love the concept of Shoshin ... This is about embracing a beginner’s mindset which refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness and lack of preconceptions. The term is translated from the word, Shoshin, which comes from Zen Buddhism. By adopting a beginner’s mindset we approach every situation we encounter as if it is the first time we are experiencing it. This helps us to be free of preconceptions of how something works and free of expectations about what will happen next. A beginner’s mindset helps us to be curious about understanding things more deeply and more open to a world of possibilities and fresh thinking.

Practicing mindfulness is a challenging task but worth a while to obtain. Breathing exercise is a great practice for calming down both mentally and physically. During the difficult conversations, it is very helpful to regulate our emotions by breathing in for 5 seconds, holding for 5 seconds then breathing out for 5 seconds.

In my opinion, mindfulness is more than a practice; it's a mindset. Incorporating activities like meditation, deep breathing, or yoga into your routine can significantly enhance your self-awareness. These practices train your mind to focus and stay present, which is essential when addressing complex problems. Furthermore, recognizing that you don’t have all the answers is also part of self-awareness. If you are open to feedback about how you approach problems, you might gain insight into aspects of your behaviour or thinking you might not be aware of. In essence, mindfulness develops self-awareness by sharpening your ability to observe your inner world with clarity, acceptance, and insight.

Practicing mindfulness or better said becoming more mindful can definitely help us to improve self-awareness as its helping us to be more present in the moment itself and develop curiosity, acceptance and non judgmental mindset. Mindfulness practices help us to observe and listen better - to our thoughts or bodies but also to others what can certainly help during problem solving situations. Meditation, breathing exercises and yoga are definitely great practices but you can practice mindfulness also during any other daily activity when you can focus your full attention and all your senses - for example a going for a mindful walk, having a mindful meal or a coffee break etc.

To enhance self-awareness in problem-solving, engage in reflective practices like journaling and mindfulness, seek feedback, and actively pursue diverse learning opportunities. Set SMART goals for improvement, collaborate in group problem-solving, and regularly evaluate outcomes to recognize patterns and biases. Developing emotional intelligence and consistently exposing oneself to varied challenges further broadens perspectives. Through reflection, feedback, and intentional learning, individuals can cultivate heightened self-awareness positively influencing problem-solving approaches and outcomes.

Look outside of your field of interest or expertise as well. Some of my strongest supports were completely different from me aside from our interest in developing ourselves. You also don't want to limit yourself to others in your field if they don't share your interest and commitment. Look for friends or communities who are also committed to becoming more self-aware. When you're surrounded by others who are building similar goals, vocabulary, and sharing experiences it will strengthen your awareness and keep you accountable.

We are all people in progress and one of the most exciting things about being alive is that we never stop learning and we never stop growing. Seeking out opportunities for continuous learning supports both our personal and professional development and enriches our lives. Learning can be enlightening, stimulating, fun and it is great for our overall wellbeing :)

The basics of self awareness are important. Know your self from the brain stem up through the limbic brain to the neo-cortex. Start with the 'where self' - a quick experiment: - become aware of how your body is positioned on the chair/bed, be aware of the touch points to the external environment. Become aware of the direction you are facing, aware of your distance from the walls, floor, and ceiling. Allow sounds to give you awareness of where you are. Next - put your phone down and close your eyes, then scan your head, neck, and shoulders for tension, releasing the tension as you become aware of what you are holding in your skeletal muscles. If you want to take this further get on touch....

When the problem seems too big, first try to calm yourself down , take a deep breath and then start with problem solving approach. The more calm the mind is , it leads to more better thinking and approach.

I have found one of the best ways to can calm myself when facing a big problem is to think about what's the worst thing that can happen. Take it all the way out to the most horrible conclusion. In most cases, once you consider the worst case scenario, you realize the likelihood of that happening is so small you start to relax. It allows you to settle down and start to be practical vs. emotional about the problem. Once calm, you can look at the situation, break it down to analyze what needs to be done, come up with a step-by-step plan and begin implementation. Following this process has helped me and my clients become productive far more quickly when facing big and unexpected challenges.

Often times we make decisions based on our emotional state. When problem-solving notice what emotion you are in. If you are in a depleting emotion, such as anger, fear or worry, it's best to shift into a renewing emotion, such as love, peace, or gratitude Our emotions have an impact on how our brain functions. Higher states of renewing emotions can bring clarity to problem solving

Review your history of problem solving situations and outcomes. Were they successful solutions, or did more problems arise. Take what you glean from this reflection. Decide if a new skill is needed for the current problem.