Likely the single most asked question
I get as an EQ coach:

“How do I improve my self-awareness?”

To improve something, you first have to understand what that thing is.

Let’s dissect & define.

Self-awareness is arguably the most important of the 4 major parts of your EQ.

(The other three – self management, social awareness, & relationship management)

Self-awareness is defined as:

Accurately recognizing & understanding your own emotions, thoughts, perceptions, strengths, limitations, & identity.

Or in other words, self-awareness gives you the knowledge to self-manage (or act).

If you don’t have the knowledge, it’s hard to act in an informed, aligned way.

Why does all of this matter?

Most leaders (like you & me) want to be:
⇢ Authentic
⇢ Confident
⇢ Effective
⇢ Empathetic
⇢ Mentally-healthy
⇢ Resilient

These outcomes are products of intentionality & dedication in your mindset & actions.

And your EQ is the how.

So back to that popular question…

You improve your self-awareness just like you improve any other skill:
1️⃣ Gauge your starting proficiency
2️⃣ Research/gather data & learn about the skill
3️⃣ Digest & critically think about the data
4️⃣ Form thoughts about the data in relation to your starting proficiency
5️⃣ Learn & apply improvement tactics (practice)
6️⃣ Measure your progress
7️⃣ Celebrate & keep going!

Where we get tripped up is this skill (self-awareness, in this case) requires US to be the subject.

We have to rise above ourselves for an objective view.

👀 Study ourselves.
❓Ask ourselves questions.
🫶 Be honest with ourselves about what we find.
😫 Sit in the discomfort of not being where we want to be.
👊 Embrace the opportunities we find with humility.
💗 Celebrate the strengths we find with self-love.
💪 Take accountability for our future actions.

Use this cheat sheet as a starting point to guide yourself through this process.

I recently heard Joe Dispenza say:

“When you become conscious of a belief, it’s hard to become unconscious of it.”

This consciousness is your self-awareness.

Cultivating self-awareness is a lifelong journey. 🛣️

Step up & be your trusted advisor & forever companion for the long haul.

__________
♻️ Repost to educate your network.
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