How To Improve Your Self-Awareness
Business Models, Teams, Job Description, Financial Success - What do they all have in common? You
Improving your self-awareness and understanding what makes you tick is a multiplier for success in all areas of your life—especially entrepreneurship.
When it comes to entrepreneurship, you can align your natural strengths and weaknesses with your business model, your team, and your business’s role to produce outsized returns on your time and energy invested.
If you are introverted and analytical, you’re likely not to become your countries next Prime Minister. In reverse, if you are extroverted and more of a “feeler,” computer programming might be a poor career choice.
Take a look around your network. Think about the people who are doing well. The most successful will have an apparent alignment with their chosen pursuits and who they are.
As entrepreneurs, the business structure we operate within is essential to our success.
Two key figureheads that have helped shape an entrepreneur’s modern-day definition, Gary Vee and Tim Ferris, operate within entirely different business structures. Both have enjoyed considerable success. They’ve built a system around them that aligns with their natural skillset and personalities.
Tim works remotely, supported by a motley crew of assistants and contractors. He adds value to his audience by producing and intelligently distributing intellectual property (content).
He dissects various aspects of people and society and writes about his findings in books and blogs. He rarely makes public appearances (apart from promoting his books) and spends vast amounts of time working in solitude.
He has strategically created a structure that works for him. You’ll likely have guessed that Tim is introverted.
On the other hand, Gary has built a media conglomerate on the back of his brand. He works and interacts with people at a hectic pace from 12 to 16 hours per day. He sprints through back to back meetings, making decisions, and building his network.
His value is in leading, communicating, and directing. He’s a people person and fills his cup by working this way. Gary is extremely extroverted and intuitive.
THIS 30 MINUTE EXERCISE WILL REVEAL YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
To purposely build a structure that aligns with your strengths and weaknesses, you’ll need to know what they are.
This 30-minute exercise will do precisely that.
Here’s how it works:
- Write down the names of five to ten Family or Friends that you spend the most time with. Hopefully, these are people who genuinely know you.
- Next, Draft a quick email, as I’ve written below. You’re going to contact people on your list and ask for objective feedback.
- Head to Facebook or your inbox and individually message each person on your list with your request for feedback.
“Hi [NAME],
You may or may not be aware I’m looking at starting my own business and have an idea about what I’d like to achieve. Before I begin, my mentor has suggested I take a closer look at my strengths and weaknesses. So I am reaching out to you for some feedback. I appreciate the help.
- What are my strengths? What am I known for? (Please state 3-4 things)
- What are my weaknesses? What lets me down? (Please state 3-4 things)
- What is my unique ability? What am I the best in the world at?”
Now review your feedback. There’ll be some expected answers and, hopefully, a few surprises.
Take a minute and think about how you can create an environment that compliments you.
Did people tell you that you’re a good communicator?
A team environment is going to suit you.
Did they say you’re a good writer?
Content marketing is going to work well for you.
HOW TO BUILD THE RIGHT TEAM
History shows it is challenging to achieve anything significant by yourself. We need teams.
There are 1,000’s of moments in your life where the input from another person has affected you. It could be a simple pat on the back for encouragement; maybe it’s an introduction to someone or getting “told off” by your parents. All those positive and negative interactions have shaped who you are today.
Ideally, you’ll create a team of people that support you, helps you grow, and contribute to your business mission.
To build a great team, you need to understand each other’s personalities and put them into positions where they’ll thrive.
There are many different ways you can approach this. I’ve found a personality test to be a great starting point.
You can use a quick and free resource, the “16 Personalities” website, which offers a free version to get you started - https://www.16personalities.com/.
The test only takes 10 minutes to complete and will give you a basic overview of your personality and how you interact with others.
Distribute this amongst your team, keep a record of each other’s personalities, and learn each other’s traits. This will allow you to work more collaboratively and be empathetic to each other's needs.
WATCH OUT FOR YOUR BLINDSPOTS
One last point to touch on is blindspots. We all have them. But being aware of them is a different story. You can use the self-understanding you’ve gained so far to help identify them.
Reviewing your strengths is a good starting point. If you are extroverted and charismatic, you’ll likely be good at influencing others and bringing people together. But, you might create a “yes sir” environment. Even when you’re wrong, people won’t correct you.
If you know this, you can actively seek out others’ viewpoints and encourage them to challenge you. This will positively impact your business and personal development.
Think about patterns in your life where adverse events recur. If you are repeating an action with good intentions, but produce a negative outcome. You’ve likely found a blind spot.
Your personality strengths will often create your blindspots.
SIX QUESTIONS TO PONDER THAT’LL HELP YOU BUILD THE RIGHT BUSINESS
These questions have saved me time, money, and pain.
- What is my idea, and how does my natural skillset stack up against this?
- How can I create alignment between myself and a business model and my idea?
- What am I trying to achieve, and what people do I need to help me?
- Who do I need on my team to increase my chances of success?
- Where are my actions leading to negative outcomes?
- Are these negative outcomes surprising?
Let me know in the comments if you've found this useful.
International Sales Manager at Paper Not Foil - The worlds first truely sustainable alternative to tinfoil for colouring hair
4 年Rhys this is great! Some very valuable information and tools........self awareness is absolutely the key. So many avoid this as they don’t want to know the answers, but knowing your weaknesses is as if not more valuable than knowing your strengths.