The 5 Steps to Personal Development: AWARENESS
As business leaders, we all have the desire to grow, produce and advance. We creatively and strategically develop plans for our businesses that, hopefully, will help it succeed in the days, months, and years ahead. Do we take the time to do the same for ourselves?
Over the next few weeks, Monday Meditations will continue to explore:
“The 5 Steps to Personal Development”.
Week #2: AWARENESS
Once we take the honest step of ASSESSMENT (see last week), the information we receive should lead us to a higher level of AWARENESS.
As I work with leaders in many different industries, I have come to the realization that one of the most limiting factors that will stifle growth for anyone in their career development is their lack of self-AWARENESS.
Let’s start with this… what is self-awareness?
In the book, ”A Theory of Objective Self-Awareness”, published in 1972, authors Shelley Duval and Robert Wicklund suggest this thought regarding self-awareness:
"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 behaviour with your values, and understand correctly how others perceive you."
Q: Have you ever personally experienced (or witnessed in others) the challenges that limited self-AWARENESS can lead to? Think of one example.
Again, working with leaders, one way to assess their professional competence and self-awareness is by completing a ”360 Peer Review”. The purpose of the peer review is to uncover areas in which the leader is acting proficiently, and also to reveal areas that require a greater attention and skill development. In this process the leader agrees to receive information (anonymously) from their colleagues working in all directions around them (above, below and at the same level) regarding their skills and management whether technical, operational or people-related. Oftentimes, when I receive the peer-feedback results and compare it to the leader’s own assessment there are glaring examples of misalignment. The leader will often rate themselves much higher, or better, than what their coworkers around them offer as information for various parts of the assessment. The difference then creates an “awareness gap”.
Upon review of the information and discussing the gap, leaders can often experience some level of disheartenment from the information that, when genuinely reflected upon, can then lead to freedom and targeted development. In other words, a true and honest ASSESSMENT leads to a heightened level of self-AWARENESS.
As Corpath members, we often open ourselves up to a “peer review” of sorts within the Forum Group setting. We bring updates on our highs and lows in our business, personal and spiritual lives and allow our Corpath brothers and sisters to ask questions that are meant to enlighten and challenge us as we pursue excellence.
We know that good counsel from others helps increase our awareness and helps lead us in better directions.
Proverbs 19:20 (NLT) says, “Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.”
Looking at Psalm 1, the righteous person is aware of his/her position and influences and acutely aware of consequences.
This passage says:
Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night. They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do. But not the wicked! They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They will be condemned at the time of judgment. Sinners will have no place among the godly. For the LORD watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction. (Psalm 1 NLT)
Know where you are and what you are supposed to do. Know who you are and where you are going. That’s awareness!
My Prayer:
My Heavenly Father, I praise You for your guidance and protection. I ask that you would heighten my awareness to be observant of my surroundings, influences and directions. Thank you for those who give me wise counsel and Godly advice. Amen.
Blessings as Always!
Steve Shrout
President, Corpath Forums
"Pursuing Excellence in Business, Life and Spirit"
Special Note:
If you enjoyed today’s message, then share it with someone. Also, use this content and questions as a discussion guide in your next Forum Group meeting.
Attached to this is a printable PDF you can use to help with your meditation and reflection. I encourage you to print it, answer the questions and then keep it in a Corpath binder or folder for future reference and thought. You will receive a new PDF each week with each new Monday Meditation, and, over time, your binder will become a book representing your Corpath journey of BUSINESS thoughts, personal LIFE development, and SPIRITUAL growth.
