Is a Lack of Self-Awareness Holding You Back?

Many people go through life following a certain routine: they deal with the same people at work each day, tell the same jokes around the water cooler, and wonder why their careers haven't budged. In many cases, the problem is a lack of self-awareness.

Self-awareness means having a clear perception of your own behavior, as well as an understanding of how others perceive you. When you lack self-awareness, a host of unspoken problems can plague you in the workplace.

Here are three questions to help you gauge your self-awareness at work:

How do I sound to others?

Listen to the sound of your own voice in meetings and individual conversations. Are you strident, demanding or fawning? Any one of these traits can make a negative impression and grate on people's nerves. Your tone of voice could be holding you back from better relationships at work, and possibly even advancement. Practice standing in front of a mirror as you speak in a confident, pleasant tone. It will soon become a habit.

How do I treat others?

People want to be treated with respect, and they want to feel their opinions matter. But if you often put people down or make fun of them to get a laugh, then you're doing yourself and them a disservice. Watch your own behavior to evaluate how you treat others. Then make a point of pausing before you speak to think carefully about what you're about to say. Make sure your responses are respectful, constructive and professional.

How do I portray myself?

Many people don't realize that how they portray themselves becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you often say things like, "I'm too busy to look at this," or "I have no idea how this works," then you're not going to inspire any confidence. Similarly, if you act like your work is more important than other people's work, you're not going to win many fans. Pave the way to a better job experience by always portraying confidence in your own abilities, a willingness to learn, and respect for others.

Self-awareness is a not a destination, but a journey. When you start to practice self-awareness at work, you'll begin to reap the benefits in your own career development.