The benefits of self-awareness in the workplace

Self-awareness is a key component of emotional intelligence. If you’ve not heard of emotional intelligence before, here’s a quick definition: “The capacity to be aware of, control, and express one’s emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.”

Having a good level of emotional intelligence is incredibly valuable in the workplace, especially if you’re working as a manager or within a team of people. Self-awareness is all about knowing your personality, your strengths and (crucially) your weaknesses. Being self-aware helps in all areas of life, but sometimes we forget just how important it is at work.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits you get from being more self-aware at work.

Five benefits of being more self-aware at work

1. You’re better able to deal with stress

Part of self-awareness is knowing what triggers you to feel stressed, angry or defensive. Knowing your triggers means you can respond to them more calmly when they come up.

Perhaps taking yourself out for a walk or, if that’s not possible, taking a few moments to breathe and collect your thoughts. This can prevent you from making a knee-jerk reaction that may only add to your stress levels (and those of your colleagues). Knowing what helps to reduce your stress is key here too. Having self-awareness means taking care of yourself and resting so you don’t burn out.

2. You can manage your time better

Knowing yourself well means you should know when and how you work best. If you know you have a lot of energy in the morning for example, then flag in the afternoons, plan to do your more taxing tasks when you get in. If you know you need limited distractions when you work, try working from quieter places if possible or invest in some noise-cancelling headphones so you can get in the zone.

3. You understand the impact your emotions have on others

Self-awareness doesn’t only benefit you, it benefits those around you. Knowing your moods and emotions well should help you see how they impact others. If you’re feeling particularly stressed, for example, you can be aware of the way this may radiate and do what you can to minimise this. As much as we would like to compartmentalise sometimes, it’s very difficult – we’re only human. There’s nothing wrong with bringing negative emotions to work, but if you see it’s affecting your work or other people’s moods, try talking about it with your manager and get some support.  

4. You’re better able to take on feedback

Receiving feedback can be tricky. One of the benefits of being self-aware is that, chances are – you already know what feedback is coming. You’re likely to be more open to constructive criticism and to learn from it. Take it as an opportunity to improve your self-awareness.   

5. You feel more confident in your ability

Getting to know yourself better includes getting to know your strengths and talents. This can help feel more confident at work. If your role isn’t currently geared towards your skillset, consider talking to your manager about ways you can incorporate more tasks that play to your strengths.

Tips to improve self-awareness

Now you understand how much understanding and knowing yourself can support you at work, it’s time to improve your self-awareness. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Take a personality test: We love 16 personalities for this. Try getting all members of your team to take the test, understanding the different characters and dynamics in a team can be super helpful.
• Practice mindfulness: Finding quiet time where you’re not distracted by tasks, social media or anything else can be a great way to get to know yourself better. Try meditation or going for a mindful walk now and then.
• Start journaling: This can be a game-changer when it comes to self-awareness. Make notes on how you feel, any stress triggers or behaviour patterns you spot day-to-day.
• Encourage feedback from colleagues: Sometimes we need to see ourselves through the eyes of other people to get a clear view. Ask your manager and/or colleagues for feedback and learn from it.

How can coaching help improve self-awareness?

Working with a career coach can be a brilliant way to understand yourself better and gain self-awareness. Using reflection and questioning techniques, a coach can help you see beneath the surface and understand how certain behaviours may come across to others.

Coaching isn’t about telling you what to do in certain situations, instead the process aims to show you that you already have the answers within yourself. By shining a light on your inherent capabilities and helping you see things from a different perspective, you’ll find yourself opening up and truly understanding yourself.

As mentioned here, this can be incredibly beneficial in the workplace, helping you gain self-awareness around the way you work, communicate and collaborate with others. A career coach can help ensure you’re getting the most out of your role, encouraging you to reach your full potential both in work and life.

Use our search tool today to find a career coach and start your journey.