Only 10-15% of people are actually self-aware, despite 95% believing they are, highlighting the need for self-awareness development.
Achieving self-awareness requires reframing introspective questions from 'why' to 'what' and seeking feedback from trusted individuals called 'loving critics'.
Deep dives
The Truth About Self-Awareness
In this podcast episode, Dr. Tasha Yurik discusses the concept of self-awareness. Only 10-15% of people are actually self-aware, despite 95% believing they are. Self-awareness is a learnable skill that can be developed to improve various areas of life. It involves understanding oneself from the inside out (internal self-awareness) and understanding how others perceive us (external self-awareness). Both types of self-awareness are independent and require specific approaches. The benefits of self-awareness include better performance at work, improved relationships, increased confidence, and greater happiness. Achieving self-awareness requires reframing introspective questions from 'why' to 'what' and seeking feedback from trusted individuals called 'loving critics'.
Tools for Improving Self-Awareness
To improve self-awareness, it is important to find loving critics who genuinely care about your success and are willing to provide honest feedback. Asking specific questions related to the areas you want to develop can yield valuable insights. Being open to feedback and learning from it is crucial. Additionally, engaging in practices like mindfulness and regular self-reflection can enhance self-awareness. The self-awareness journey is ongoing, and building incremental insights leads to personal and professional growth.
Pitfalls of Over-Emphasizing Internal or External Self-Awareness
Overemphasizing internal self-awareness without considering external perspectives can lead to false confidence and potential blind spots. Seeking feedback from loving critics helps balance internal self-awareness with the external view. On the other hand, overemphasizing external self-awareness while neglecting internal self-awareness may result in people-pleasing and sacrificing personal fulfillment. Balancing both types of self-awareness is essential for unlocking the full potential of self-awareness.
Taking Action: Assessing Self-Awareness and Seeking Feedback
As a starting point, individuals can take a self-awareness quiz available at insight-quiz.com to gauge their level of self-awareness. This free tool provides a baseline and offers actionable steps to improve self-awareness. Additionally, identifying loving critics who have one's best interest at heart and are willing to provide honest feedback can support the self-awareness journey. Setting up regular check-ins with these individuals and asking specific questions aligned with personal growth goals can foster self-awareness development.
In this episode, we tell the truth about self-awareness. 95% of people think they are self-aware but only 10% actually are. Where do you think you stand and what can you do to improve what our guest calls the superpower of the 21st century? All this and more with our guest Dr. Tasha Eurich.
Dr. Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist, executive coach, researcher, and New York Times Bestselling author. She is the New York Times Bestselling author of Bankable Leadership and INSIGHT. Her TED talk has been viewed over one million times and her work has been featured in Business Insider, Forbes, The New York Times, and many more! In 2019, she was named one of the top 30 emerging management thinkers in the world by Thinkers50, as well as the #1 self-awareness coach in the world by Marshall Goldsmith.
