22 - Charles "Evan" Smith on Self-Awareness for Learning, Performance, and Change
The Learning + Performance Podcast
Failure and the Lesson of Assumptions
Evan describes a failed leadership role where assumptions and insufficient curiosity led to missed collaboration opportunities.
🌟 Episode Synopsis
We all like to believe we’re self-aware—but what if we’re not as clear-eyed as we think? In this episode of The Learning and Performance Podcast, I sit down with Charles Evan Smith (known to most as Evan), a seasoned coach, consultant, and change architect, to explore why self-awareness is the hidden foundation for personal and organizational transformation.
With more than 25 years of experience helping Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven organizations, Evan brings a rare blend of systems thinking, neuroscience, and deep empathy to his work. Together, we discuss why self-awareness is so rare (spoiler: 90% of people think they have it, but only 10% actually do), how blind spots can derail performance, and what leaders can do to foster change from the inside out.
You’ll hear stories of organizational turnarounds, powerful coaching questions like "And what else?", and research that shows how behavior monitoring can spark real growth. Whether you’re a leader, coach, or simply someone striving to grow, this episode is packed with insights and practical tools to help you raise your own self-awareness and make meaningful change.
👤 About the Guest
Charles Evan Smith is a coach, consultant, and facilitator with more than two decades of experience helping individuals, teams, and organizations navigate meaningful change. As the founder of Metamorphosis Management Group, Evan partners with leaders to translate self-awareness into measurable business results and lasting personal growth.
He also works with Box of Crayons to deliver curiosity-led leadership programs and with Empactful Advisors to align leadership, culture, and performance. Certified in tools like the Leadership Circle Profile and ICF Team Coaching, Evan brings a unique combination of systems thinking, behavior change theory, and deep empathy for the human side of work.
Website: metaMG.com
- LinkedIn: Charles Evan Smith
🧠Key Topics Covered
What self-awareness is and why it’s the foundation for personal and organizational change
The surprising gap between perceived and actual self-awareness
How leaders can model “learning out loud” to energize change
The neuroscience of habits and why patterns are hard to change
Tools and practices for cultivating self-awareness, from feedback loops to habit trackers
Common barriers to self-awareness and why it’s often dismissed as a soft skill
Practical ways to deepen your own self-awareness and apply it to learning and performance
🛠️ Tools and Practices Mentioned
The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
Habit tracking and journaling
- Morning intention-setting practices
đź“ť Detailed Show Notes and Transcript
📚 Learn More – Further Resources
What You Don’t Know About Making Decisions (HBR) by David Garvin
🎧 Related Episodes
Jon Walker on Self-Compassion for Learning, Performance, and Joy (#21)
Nicole L’Etoile on Accessibility and Inclusive Design (#20)
Amy Edmondson on Psychological Safety in Teams (#9)
📬 Connect with Pat
Looking to elevate your own learning and performance? I (Pat Healy) help individuals and organizations learn faster and perform better through coaching, consulting, and learning design.
Website: patrickjhealy.com
Email: pat@patrickjhealy.com
LinkedIn: Patrick Healy
Connect with me and let’s explore how we can improve your learning and performance today!
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