When I look back on my life in the corporate world, I was pretty miserable for most of it.
I may have had different jobs in very different companies, but on the whole, I didn’t feel listened to, I didn’t know how to articulate my needs and I didn’t really know what I wanted.
This resulted in me spending a lot of time moaning and complaining to anybody who would listen, which ultimately made me more miserable and did get me into trouble
It wasn’t till after I left the corporate world and began my coaching journey that I became more aware of myself, and how I contributed to my own misery. I also must have added further toxicity to the work environment. Gossiping and moaning became part of the daily work routine.
Even though much of my career was around HR and the Learning and Development departments, self-awareness didn’t really come into it, and it never really occurred to me that I was contributing to my own misery, which I am sure was a contributing factor to Multiple Sclerosis developing in my body.
I now fully understand that the first step to healing and happiness is self-awareness.
Self-awareness is the ability to recognise one’s own strengths, weaknesses, emotions, and motivations. It’s about understanding how these factors impact our behaviour and decision-making.
Becoming self-aware has been so beneficial for me and I recognise that had me and my colleagues been able to have honest, open and self-aware conversations, how much happier, healthier and more productive I would have been.
It seems logical that having healthier happier employees would result in a happier, healthier company.
A quick internet search validates this idea and suggests that encouraging self-awareness in the workplace would lead to many benefits, including but not limited to:
- Enhanced Decision-Making: Self-aware individuals are better equipped to make informed decisions, considering their own strengths, limitations, and potential biases. They can weigh options more objectively, leading to more strategic and impactful choices.
- Effective Communication and Collaboration: Self-aware individuals are mindful of their communication style and its impact on others. They can foster open and honest dialogue, resolve conflicts constructively, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams.
- Increased Emotional Intelligence: Self-awareness cultivates emotional intelligence, the ability to manage emotions, empathise with others, and build positive relationships. Emotionally intelligent individuals contribute to a harmonious and supportive work environment.
- Enhanced Productivity and Engagement: Self-aware individuals are more likely to find work that aligns with their strengths and passions, leading to increased engagement, motivation, and productivity. They take ownership of their work and strive for excellence.
- Adaptability and Resilience: Self-awareness enables individuals to navigate change and challenges effectively. They can recognize their stress triggers and develop coping mechanisms, fostering resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity.
How can you cultivate a culture of self-awareness in the workplace?
I have many ideas, tools and techniques!
I will be discussing this in my first LinkedIn Live taking place on Tuesday 12th December at midday UK time.
Comment with any ideas or questions that you would like me to cover.
~ Gina Dallison