Has anyone told you anything lately about yourself and you were surprised? That's always a good gauge for self-awareness. These questions can help you determine if you are self-aware:
· When your friends, colleagues or significant other has tried to tell you something about how you are behaving, how have you responded?
· Are you hearing the same message from multiple people?
· Do you believe it?
Being unaware, we unconsciously engage our default behaviour. Only when we become aware of something, are we able to make choices as to the action we wish to take.
Here is a mental model to use in your world:
a. Beliefs influence perception.
b. Perception structures reality.
c. Reality suggests possibilities.
d. Possibilities generate choices.
e. Choices initiate actions.
f. Actions affect outcomes.
g. Outcomes impact beliefs.
h. Awareness facilitates change.
If you want to build your "business executive edge," now is the time to make sure that you are self-aware. Self-awareness is the foundation for everything that you do to build your brand, your emotional intelligence and your edge.
Blind Spots: What is known by others but not by us?
People notice things about us but do not always tell us. And while what they notice could be positive or negative; it is the negative that we need to focus on. It is the habits and behaviours that bother others that hurt our business and/or careers. These are the behaviours that we are not aware we are exhibiting but contribute to our reputations.
For instance, people may say that they know they are sarcastic. They just may not realise that their sarcasm rubs others the wrong way and that they truly offend people. Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit! The obvious problem is that the sarcastic person loses credibility every time he or she is sarcastic.
How do you know what your blind spots are? And if you think you do not have blind spots, think again! We all have blind spots. The important point is this: If we do not become aware of our blind spots, we will not achieve what we are capable of achieving.
What sets you apart? What gives you the edge over someone else?
"Enhancing Your Executive Edge" authored by Kim Zoller and Kerry Preston is based on working with more than 100,000 people over the last 22 years. After studying the research, the authors have concluded that the answer is simple, yet not simple enough to overcome.
In your business or with your career, there are two sides of the coin: one side constitutes technical and job skills, and the other is interpersonal skills.
Both are important in the workplace, but once you have the competencies or the ability to learn them, your interpersonal skills become critical and are actually more important.
Finally, eighty percent of business owners and executives I work with, it is about improving and refining their interpersonal skills so that they grow as individuals and continue to develop personally and professionally.
Are you getting the best support? Why not consider a Business Coach for your business?
Reference: Kim Zoller: “Enhancing Your Executive Edge: How to Develop the Skills to Lead and Succeed”
Business Tips
Self-Awareness and Your Business Edge
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- Parent Category: Business Tips
- Category: Self-Motivation & Awareness
