What is self-awareness?

Psychologists Shelley Duval and Robert Wicklund proposed this definition:

“Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or
don’t align with your internal standards. If you’re highly self-aware, you can objectively evaluate
yourself, manage your emotions, align your behavior with your values, and understand correctly
how others perceive you.”

Put simply, those who are highly self-aware can interpret their actions, feelings, and thoughts
objectively.

It’s a rare skill, as many of us spiral into emotion-driven interpretations of our circumstances.
Developing self-awareness is important because it allows leaders to assess their growth and
effectiveness and change course when necessary.

Two states of self-awareness

There are two distinct kinds of self-awareness, public and private.

Public self-awareness: Being aware of how we can appear to others. Because of this consciousness,
we are more likely to adhere to social norms and behave in ways that are socially acceptable.

While there are benefits to this type of awareness, there is also the danger of tipping into self-
consciousness. Those who are especially high in this trait may spend too much time worrying about
what others think of them.

Private self-awareness: Being able to notice and reflect on one’s internal state. Those who have
private self-awareness are introspective, approaching their feelings and reactions with curiosity.

For example, you may notice yourself tensing up as you are preparing for an important meeting.
Noticing the physical sensations and correctly attributing them to your anxiety about the meeting
would be an example of private self-awareness.

When self-awareness tips into self-consciousness, we are reluctant to share certain aspects of
ourselves. We develop a persona that lacks authenticity.