In our previous article, we defined and explored the components of self-awareness. Now, let's zoom in on the challenges and benefits.
Challenges of Self-Awareness
1. Ignorance and discomfort. Plato’s Allegory of the Cave illustrates how ignorance can limit self-awareness and how knowledge leads to liberation. In the allegory, prisoners chained in a cave see only shadows projected on a wall, believing them to be reality. When one prisoner is freed, he struggles to take in this new understanding but eventually learns that the shadows are mere reflections of actual objects. Upon seeing the outside world, he grasps a deeper reality. When he returns to share this knowledge with the other prisoners, he is met with disbelief and hostility. This underscores the journey of self-awareness: breaking free from ignorance to understand deeper truths can be an enlightening experience. It can also be challenging because some truths we discover about ourselves can be so uncomfortable that we prefer ignorance as bliss.
2. Varied backgrounds. Our self-awareness varies significantly due to numerous factors: different generations, upbringing, income levels, values, job markets, incentives, and experiences. For instance, a person growing up in poverty thinks differently about risk and reward than a wealthy banker. John F. Kennedy admitted he could not fully understand the impact of the Depression era because he grew up rich. We've all experienced only a tiny sliver of the world, shaping our unique perspectives.
3. Dunning Kruger Effect. This cognitive bias occurs when people with low ability or knowledge in an area overestimate their competence. Identified by David Dunning and Justin Kruger in 1999, it happens because unskilled individuals fail to recognize their deficiencies, leading to inflated self-assessments. For example, an employee new to software may feel proficient after a brief introduction, assuming they're more competent than others who have used it longer. This overestimation can lead to mistakes and oversights.
4. Ego. An inaccurate self-view can hinder leadership growth. For instance, a leader I was working with had a Direct Report submit a self-assessment on his performance review and wrote “n/a” for what to improve. When pressed, my client suggested to the Direct the topic of delegation to achieve results through others, rather than doing it all himself. The Direct dismissed the feedback because he is so talented at getting his work done. His progress is hampered because he cannot scale by doing all the work himself, he has to get results through his team. To increase his awareness, the leader then provided a competency framework and clear expectations to get to the next level and help align his self-perception with reality.
5. Defensiveness. When receiving feedback, we might disagree, believing we’re better than assessed. For example, someone might think they’re a great listener despite feedback suggesting otherwise. In this case, asking for specific data points and providing evidence from peers, directs, and other stakeholders through anonymous 360 feedback is helpful. Seeing the negative impact can motivate change. Another form of defensiveness is dismissal. Some might say, "This is just how I am," or "I've been successful with these behaviors so far, why change?" Marshall Goldsmith says, "What got you here won’t get you there," highlighting that success often comes despite derailing tendencies, not because of them.
6. Lack of feedback. Many people lack self-awareness because they seldom receive feedback, especially negative. People avoid giving bad news or lack the skills to deliver it constructively. This issue is more pronounced for senior leaders, who receive less accurate self-assessments as they climb higher, mainly due to a shortage of honest feedback and being limited to what you might be able to share with others. One study showed a leader frequently interrupting others was unaware of it, illustrating the loneliness at the top, where they are often surrounded by yes-people.
Benefits of Self-Awareness
1. Reduces Stress & Regulates Emotions. Cognitive psychology shows that one of the most effective methods for reducing stress is to engage in self-reflection, viewing stress as a challenge rather than a threat. Self-disciplined contemplation of core values, goals, and principles can prevent or manage stress. Understanding one’s feelings and those of others is more important than IQ.
2. Greater performance, focus, and effectiveness. 83% of high performers are self-aware. Visionary leaders know what they want to achieve and how their actions affect others. Self-awareness allows us to focus on the right opportunities and keep emotions from holding us back.
3. Stronger leadership. Tasha Eurich’s book "Insight" found that internal self-awareness is critical for successful leaders. They know their strengths, weaknesses, needs, goals, and how they come across. This is in contrast to clueless leaders who tend to be ineffective. Great leaders continuously ask questions to diagnose their needs and goals and wonder what blind spots they may have. Maslow said, “What is necessary to change a person is to change his awareness of himself.”
4. Enhances Authenticity. Nancy McKinstry, CEO of Wolters Kluwer said, “You can’t be authentic if you are not self-aware. How can you be transparent and open, talk about your goals, or share how you influence change without self-awareness?” It enables transparency, openness, and the ability to influence change.
5. Increases humility. Self-aware individuals know what they are good at and what they are not. Even confident individuals can acknowledge their ignorance in certain areas, fostering curiosity and humility. Steve Jobs, for example, was aware of his limitations and welcomed disagreements. He held strong convictions but was willing to change his mind when presented with better information. Ed Catmull shared a story about Jobs, who wanted Apple to make the iPad before the iPhone. However, his team convinced him otherwise, and he agreed. He insisted that Apple provide the app despite his team’s disagreement. When the iPhone launched, Jobs quickly realized his team was right and changed his mind, demonstrating his ability to adapt and embrace humility.
Developing self-awareness is crucial for overcoming personal and professional challenges. It allows us to break free from ignorance, understand our unique backgrounds, manage cognitive biases, and receive constructive feedback. By fostering self-awareness, we can reduce stress, improve performance, enhance leadership, and cultivate authenticity and humility. Embrace these practices to unlock your full potential and achieve greater success
Quote of the day: “If we think of this existence of the individual as a larger or smaller room, it appears evident that most people learn to know only a corner of their room, a place by the window, a strip of floor on which they walk up and down.” – Rainer Maria Rilke
Question: What do you see as the biggest challenges of self-awareness? When is ignorance bliss, or is it not? Comment and share your experiences below; we’d love to hear.
The next blog in this series 3/3 will focus on ways to develop your self-awareness.
As a leadership development and executive coach, I work with leaders to raise their awareness to increase their performance, contact me to explore this topic further
What benefits have you experienced?