How do you improve your self-awareness and competence?

1 Reflect on your values and beliefs

One way to increase your self-awareness is to reflect on your own values and beliefs, and how they influence your interactions with clients and colleagues. You can use tools such as journals, supervision, feedback, or self-assessment instruments to identify your strengths, areas for improvement, biases, assumptions, and emotions. By being honest and curious about yourself, you can recognize your limitations, acknowledge your mistakes, and seek new learning opportunities.

2 Seek diverse perspectives and experiences

Another way to improve your competence is to seek diverse perspectives and experiences that challenge your existing knowledge and assumptions. You can do this by engaging with clients and colleagues from different backgrounds, cultures, identities, and viewpoints, and by being respectful, empathetic, and open-minded. You can also seek formal or informal education, training, or mentorship that exposes you to new theories, practices, or evidence. By expanding your horizons, you can develop a more holistic and nuanced understanding of social work issues.

3 Apply critical thinking and evidence-based practice

A third way to improve your self-awareness and competence is to apply critical thinking and evidence-based practice to your social work interventions. You can do this by using relevant and reliable sources of information, data, or research to inform your decisions and actions. You can also evaluate the outcomes and impacts of your interventions, and reflect on what worked well, what did not, and why. By being analytical and reflective, you can enhance your effectiveness, accountability, and quality of service.

4 Seek feedback and supervision

A fourth way to improve your self-awareness and competence is to seek feedback and supervision from others who can offer you constructive and supportive guidance. You can do this by establishing regular and trusting relationships with your supervisors, peers, mentors, or consultants, and by being open to their suggestions, questions, or criticisms. You can also seek feedback from your clients, stakeholders, or community members, and by being responsive to their needs, preferences, or complaints. By being collaborative and receptive, you can improve your communication, collaboration, and performance.

5 Practice self-care and wellness

A fifth way to improve your self-awareness and competence is to practice self-care and wellness, as they are vital for your personal and professional well-being. You can do this by taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, and by finding a balance between your work and personal life. You can also seek support from your family, friends, colleagues, or professionals when you face stress, burnout, or trauma. By being compassionate and resilient, you can prevent or cope with the challenges and demands of social work.

6 Keep learning and growing

A sixth way to improve your self-awareness and competence is to keep learning and growing as a social worker, as they are ongoing and lifelong processes. You can do this by setting realistic and attainable goals for yourself, and by pursuing them with passion, curiosity, and dedication. You can also seek new opportunities, challenges, or roles that allow you to apply, expand, or update your skills, knowledge, or experience. By being proactive and adaptable, you can keep up with the changing and complex needs of social work.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?