Know thyself? Limitations of self-perception

Understanding who we really are, as an individual, is a multi-faceted conundrum. It’s a big question, a huge question, with so many contributing aspects to consider.

We may seek to understand who we are on a personal level. Who are we as a parent, a son or daughter, a wife or husband, or as a friend? Beyond this, who are we at work? As a co-worker, manager or leader? What drives us in our career and how do we go about achieving our ambitions for the future? What are our overall core values and beliefs?

Clearly, the starting point for any journey of self-understanding, is with us, the individual concerned. This requires us to be open, honest and accurate in our assessment of ourselves. This is trickier than it might seem, as self-perception has its limitations.

• Self-perception is highly subjective, and we may not always be able to apply an objective interpretation, with emotions, personal biases, ingrained habits and external factors all having an influence.
• Information can be selectively interpreted during self-perception to confirm existing beliefs or any self-serving biases.
• We may consciously or unconsciously compare ourselves to others, evaluating ourselves against their behaviours and achievements, distorting our self-perception. Comparisons may be based on unrealistic expectations we have of ourselves, potentially also deflecting attention away from other areas where we compare more favourably.
• It can be context dependent. Differences in our current situation, thoughts, emotions, and recent experiences can all have an impact and challenge our ability to be consistent and accurate in our self-reflection.
• We may choose, consciously or unconsciously, to see ourselves as we would like to be, rather than who we are, especially if the latter feels uncomfortable.
• Through self-perception we are less likely to acknowledge some of the more subtle nuances of our personality, behaviours, or emotions. While we might not notice such aspects, they may be highly visible to, and have an impact on, others.

Staying within the realms of our own (perhaps not overly challenging) self-perception is certainly easier but will not help us to grow and develop. Whilst the idea of asking for feedback can feel awkward or uncomfortable, understanding how others perceive our actions and behaviours is key to enhancing self-knowledge.

How might such a deeper understanding of ourselves, informed by feedback from others, help us? In the context of the workplace, understanding how we come across to others, how our behaviours affect teammates, and how we communicate with our direct reports or those we report to, enables us to adjust and modify our approach as appropriate.

Imagine if you knew how best to adapt your communication style depending on who you were talking with. Understanding the other person’s preferred working styles can ensure that information is exchanged more effectively.

How would it feel to have the confidence and knowledge to understand how best to apply yours and others’ strengths to build high-performing teams?

The?Belbin?Team Roles framework provides evidence-based practical advice and guidance enabling individuals to understand themselves and their strengths within a team. A Self-Perception Inventory (SPI) is used alongside Observer Assessments (OA) to provide individuals with a full picture of their behavioural styles at work enhancing self-awareness.

“To be authentic is to be the same person to others as you are to yourself. In part that entails paying attention to what others think of you, particularly people whose opinions you esteem and who will be candid in their feedback”.?– Daniel Goleman, Harvard Business Review

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Read the Case study:?Belbin and Self-Awareness?https://www.belbin.com/resources/belbin-case-studies/belbin-and-self-awareness-case-study

Watch the video:?How to use Belbin reports to raise self-awareness and increase personal effectiveness:?https://youtu.be/CmoUNv9os5s

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This is a guest blog by Belbin, who are a TCD Trusted Provider.?Belbin is an online profiling tool that translates an individual’s unique combination of strengths into Team Role contributions. Based on decades of research and incorporating feedback from the whole team, the Belbin reports offer actionable solutions and advice to boost individual and team performance, improve dynamics and address conflict.