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Chapter #3 Self-Awareness Maysa Jahmani

Lecture# (1)
Self-awareness as it relates to values, interests and skills
Emotional Intelligence (EI)

Definition
Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a type of social intelligence and the ability of
individuals to control their own emotions and use this to recognize and guide
others’ emotions and actions.
EI is a collection of emotions, skills and characteristics that drive
performance and success. EI simply means using emotions intelligently according
to your advantage.
The Importance of EI
The knowledge of EI is extremely essential as it is now clear that technical
skills alone cannot provide professional and personal success. High EI is a great
predictor of high performance. There is a direct link between EI and earning
potential.
It has been brought into focus by Dr. Daniel Goleman in his book Emotional
Intelligence: Why it can matter more than IQ. Goleman researched that EI, rather
than cognitive ability was the reason for 90% of the difference between star
performers and average performers in companies. As a result, he has proposed a
group of five skills involved in Emotional Intelligence that can take average
professionals to the next level of greatness:
1. Self-Awareness: Honestly recognizing feelings within, as these happen.
2. Self-Regulation: Taking control of your emotions and thoughts.
3. Personal Motivation: Being driven to achieve, for the sake of achievement.
4. Empathy: Being sensitive to others’ feelings while making decisions.
5. Social Skills: Managing relationships to influence people in the desired direction
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These 5 components can be grouped under 2 different clusters:

Personal Transformation Social Relationship Management
 Self-Awareness  Empathy
 Self-Regulation, Self-  Relationship Skills
Management
 Personal Motivation

Self-Mangement
Managing emtions and Self-Awareness
behaviors to acheive
one's goals Recognizing one's emtions
and values as well as
one's strengths and

Emotional
challenges

Social Awareness Intelligenc

e
Showing understanding
and empathy for others Responsible Decision-
Making
Making ethical,
constructive choices about
personal and social
Relationship Skills behavior
Forming positive
relationships, working in
teams, dealing effectively
with conflict
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Self-Awareness
What does Self-Awareness mean?
Self-awareness is the first component of emotional intelligence. It is the
ability to be honest with oneself and identify, understand and evaluate personal
feelings. In other words, Self-awareness means having a deep understanding of
one’s emotions, strengths, weaknesses, needs, and drives.
Self-awareness is concerned with knowing about your own state of mind and
capabilities, preferences, resources, and perceptions. As you become more self-
aware, you are able to be in better touch with your own feelings. People with a
heightened self-awareness are neither pessimistic nor overtly optimistic. Rather,
they are candid with themselves and with others, at work and at home.
Self-awareness is directly related to Self-Confidence

What are the types of self-awareness?

There are two types of self-awareness:
Internal self-awareness: how clearly we see our own values, passions,
aspirations, fit with our environment, reactions (including thoughts, feelings,
behaviors, strengths, and weaknesses), and impact on others. It is associated with
higher job and relationship satisfaction, personal and social control, and happiness;
it is negatively related to anxiety, stress, and depression.
External self-awareness: understanding how other people view us. People who
know how others see them are more skilled at showing empathy and taking others’
perspectives. For leaders who see themselves as their employees do, their
employees tend to have a better relationship with them, feel more satisfied with
them, and see them as more effective in general
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Examples
Highly self-aware people recognize how their feelings affect them, other
people, and their job performance. As they know that tight deadlines bring out the
worst in them, they plan their time carefully and get their work done well in
advance.
They will be able to work with a demanding client. They will understand the
client’s impact on their moods and the deeper reasons for their frustration. “Some
clients’ trivial demands take us away from the real work that needs to be done,”.
They will go one step further and turn their anger into something constructive.
Highly Self-aware people understand their values and goals. They know
where they are headed and why; so, for example, they will be able to be firm in
turning down a job offer that is tempting financially but does not fit with their
principles or long-term goals. People who lack self-awareness are apt to make
decisions that bring on inner turmoil (disorder). “The money looked good so I signed
on,” someone might stay two years into a job, “but the work means so little to me
that I’m constantly bored.” The decisions of self-aware people mesh with (correspond with)
their values; consequently, they often find work to be energizing.

How can we describe people with strong self-Awareness?

1. are able to conduct direct, authentic and accurate self-appraisals (evaluation).
2. are self-confident as they voice (express) their opinions even if unpopular and
welcome feedback.
3. are able to perceive situations accurately & gauge (estimate) changes in their
environment.
4. are willing to take risks for what they believe to be right.
5. believe that they are the best persons for that job and present themselves
accordingly.
6. make decisions in tune with their values and beliefs.
7. have a self-deprecating sense of humor i.e. display the ability to laugh at
themselves.
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How can you develop your Self-Awareness?

a. Create a timeline of your life history. What are the major events in your life?
b. Identify your role models. Are these people in your current or past life? What
did you learn from them?
c. Describe your strengths and weaknesses.
d. Describe the way you typically solve problems.
e. Identify at least three of your core values. How do they shape the decisions you
make?
f. Describe your approach to persuading others or allowing yourself to be
persuaded. What types of arguments work best with you?

Is Self-Awareness beneficial and important?

It is important for the following benefits:
 It can make us more proactive, boost our acceptance, and encourage positive
self-development (Sutton, 2016).

 Self-awareness allows us to see things from the perspective of others,

practice self-control, work creatively and productively, and experience pride in
ourselves and our work as well as general self-esteem (Silvia & O’Brien,
2004).

 It leads to better decision making (Ridley, Schutz, Glanz, & Weinstein, 1992).

 It can make us better at our jobs, better communicators in the workplace, and
enhance our self-confidence and job-related wellbeing (Sutton, Williams, &
Allinson, 2015).