The Importance of Self-Awareness for Career Success

THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF AWARENESS FOR CAREER SUCCESS

Our modern world with its busyness, hustle & bustle, and life challenges has caused a disconnect in how people relate to self and others. It is no surprise that the daily race to provide for oneself, family, and getting ahead is the energy that hovers over many of us. Text language, microwaves, and internet culture make it possible to get data, information, and food in seconds. The hurriedness of life, earbuds & phone screens, and the loss of older social norms have contributed to this phenomenon of being less self-aware and the impact this has on others. Dictionary.com defines self-awareness as being: “conscious of one’s own feelings, character, etc.” ?

The activity of reconnecting, becoming more reflective and self-aware plays a crucial role in career success. It is one of the key domains of Emotional Intelligence (EQ) and it involves having a deep understanding of one's strengths, weaknesses, values, emotions, and motivations. When individuals possess self-awareness, they are better equipped to make informed decisions, leverage their strengths, address their weaknesses, and navigate their career paths effectively. We will explore a few key indicators of the importance of self-awareness for career success.

1)??????Self-awareness enables individuals to identify and capitalize on their strengths. When people have a clear understanding of their abilities and where they excel, they can focus their efforts on tasks and roles that align accordingly. This leads to increased job satisfaction, higher productivity, and better performance. By leveraging strengths, individuals can stand out in their careers and differentiate themselves from others in the workplace. Strengths can be viewed as those points of aptitude that come effortlessly i.e., the activities that you are naturally inclined to do and can be validated with feedback from others. Comments, observations, and those characteristics that have been with you over the course of your life that others remarked about are signals and clues of a natural strength.

2)??????Self-awareness provides insights for individuals to identify and address their weaknesses. No one is perfect, and everyone has areas in which they can improve. That being said, having a clear understanding of one’s limitations can move you to compensate for those weaknesses. This may involve seeking additional training, mentorship, or collaborating with others who possess complementary skills. By actively working on a weakness, individuals can enhance their professional capability and become more well-rounded, making them more valuable to employers. However, while it is important to balance out one’s skillset by working on a weakness, studies show that a better strategy is to make a “strength even stronger” yielding a greater return on time investment. In his book Go Put Your Strengths to Work, Marcus Buckingham says “we often identify our strengths and weaknesses in the wrong way. We think of strengths as things we're good at and weaknesses as things we're bad at.”

Buckingham goes on to say that “a better way to think of strengths and weaknesses, is to figure out what energizes us.” “Strengths make us feel strong; weaknesses make us feel weak.” So, he says, “one way to identify your strengths is to think about how activities make you feel. Something is a strength if: 1) It makes you feel successful, 2)?You're drawn to it even if you don't know why, 3) It fully engages you when doing it, and you often find yourself in a flow state while doing it, and 4) After performing the activity, you feel energized, fulfilled, and powerful[1].” There are several strengths assessments available on-line and a popular and widely used go to tool by companies and individuals alike is Gallup’s Clifton Strengths. It is worth a small investment to help uncover the domains of your “superpowers” so that you can operate with more intentionality and know when to specifically seize opportunities to showcase these aptitudes in day-to-day situations. Knowing your strengths is also an inherent confidence builder that you can leverage to your advantage.

3)??????Self-awareness also plays a significant role in decision-making. Possessing Emotional Intelligence in this area enables a person to have a deep understanding of their values, aspirations, and long-term goals, wherein they can make career choices that align with their personal and professional aspirations. Self-awareness helps individuals evaluate opportunities, assess potential risks, and make choices that align with their authentic selves. By making decisions that resonate with their core values and interests, individuals are more likely to find fulfillment and satisfaction in their careers. In addition to making career moves, the ability to be decisive and secure in evaluating a situation and taking timely action to finalize a decision is another key element of strategic thinking that cannot be ignored.

4)?????Becoming more emotionally self-aware enhances interpersonal skills. Effective communication, empathy, and collaboration are critical in the workplace. When individuals are more attuned to their own emotions, they can better regulate them effectively. Self-regulation is another key domain of Emotional Intelligence and by working on managing the highs and lows of temperament as well as displaying the ability to empathize with others, understand their perspectives, and communicate more effectively builds trust and connection. Through the process of building positive relationships, one can effectively navigate workplace dynamics, foster collaboration, teamwork, and career advancement opportunities.

5)?????Generating more self-awareness also promotes continuous learning and growth. When individuals are observant of their knowledge gaps, areas for improvement, and blind spots, they are more likely to seek out learning opportunities and embrace professional development. Self-awareness is a foundational step in cultivating a growth mindset, which encourages individuals to seek feedback, learn from mistakes, and continuously improve their skills. This commitment to growth and improvement positions individuals for long-term career success in an ever-evolving job market and increases promotability.

6)?????Finally, self-awareness contributes to resilience and adaptability. Career paths are rarely linear, and individuals often face setbacks, challenges, and unexpected changes. Self-awareness helps individuals understand their emotional responses to these situations and enables them to bounce back from setbacks faster and more effectively. It allows individuals to evaluate their reactions, learn from their experiences, and adapt their strategies as needed. By being self-aware, individuals can cultivate resilience, embrace change, and navigate through career obstacles with greater ease and less angst.

In conclusion, self-awareness is of utmost importance for career success and is a holistic life skill. It enables individuals to identify and capitalize on their strengths, address their weaknesses, make informed decisions, enhance interpersonal skills, foster continuous learning, and build resilience. Self-awareness also positively benefits others because of the intentional effort to be open, vulnerable, and relatable. Developing this EQ domain requires introspection, reflection, and a deep commitment to personal growth. By nurturing self-awareness, individuals can unlock their full potential and achieve long-term success in their careers and in their personal lives.

[1] https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-find-your-strengths: Work on Your Strengths, Not Your Weaknesses. Why it's more important to develop your strengths than improve on your weaknesses. By Jessica Greene · May 9, 2019

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Sheryl Brinkley is a Women's Leadership Pipeline Builder & Sustainer and a Career Acceleration Catalyst Specializing in Hi-Potential & Mid-Level leader progression into Sr. Level & C-Suite positions. She is an Executive & Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness Coach supporting her clients in their holistic self-actualization pursuits while deepening self-awareness for maximal leadership impact.