Many organizations today face a critical challenge: identifying individuals who can adapt, lead effectively, and drive sustained performance. While we agree that technical expertise is crucial, research shows that the most successful leaders and high-performing professionals demonstratea fundamental trait: Self-awareness. As a matter of fact, Claire Hughes Johnson, former Chief Operating Officer of Stripe, said that self-awareness is the number one skill she would look for when interviewing candidates. Johnson believes that self-aware people are confident, better communicators, and effective leaders.
Organizational psychologist Tasha Eurich, in a TED Talk, defines self-awareness as “The ability to see ourselves clearly, to understand who we are, how others see us, and how we fit into the world. ” As business markets become more dynamic and workplace relationships become more nuanced, one’s ability to be self-aware is an ultimate competitive advantage for career advancement and professional success.
The Birkman Method helps individuals become more self-aware by helping them understand their behaviors, leverage productive behaviors, and manage stress. Birkman assessment techniques can enhance your self-awareness and improve overall leadership abilities. View a sample Birkman Report here and talk to a Crosworks Career Coach about how this information can be used to make you more self-aware and thoughtful about your future.
The Multiplier Effect
Simply put, self-awareness acts as a multiplier for your skills. For example, if you’re able to better understand your communication style, you can a conscious effort to adjust it to develop a better connection with different personality types. Or, if you are more aware of your stress triggers, you can manage them before they derail important conversations and crucial decisions.
In leadership roles, people who are self-aware create psychological safety for their teams by acknowledging their own mistakes and shortcomings. This helps them make better strategic decisions and foster positive relationships because their ability to self-evaluate helps them understand how their words and actions may affect others.
The Science of Self-Discovery
As noted by Harvard Business Review, despite many people claiming that they’re self-aware, only 10%-15% fit the criteria. Developing self-awareness requires more than casual introspection. It involves prasystematic evaluation using assessment tools and proven methodologies, like Birkman. Birkman goes beyond surface-level categorization to reveal the complex interplay between an individual’s usual behavior, underlying needs, and stress responses.
Wondering how this benefits you? In a nutshell, Birkman helps to uncover aspects of your personality that may not be immediately obvious, even to you. For instance, your assessment results might reveal that while you appear confident and decisive on the outside, you actually need more time to process information prior to making any important decisions.
The Path to Greater Self-Awareness
Birkman Assessment results reveal the underlying needs and stress behaviors that drive individual performance. The assessment identifies your natural strengths, preferred work environment, and the specific conditions under which you operate most effectively. But perhaps the most valuable insights that are revealed by Birkman are the potential blind spots and stress reactions that may hinder your success if left unaddressed.
The real transformation comes from working with a professional career coach who can help you interpret your assessment results in light of personal challenges and your career goals. A skilled coach guides you through the nuances of your Birkman profile, helping you understand the results and teaching you how to leverage these insights to gain maximum personal and professional advantage.
The Long-Term Payoff
In the current (and future) environment that is increasingly driven by relationships, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, self-awareness is indeed a competitive advantage. This particular asset will continue to appreciate over time, growing stronger with experience and reflection. Self-aware individuals will always work on building a strong foundation that aids career progression and professional success. These are people who will serve as leaders who inspire others, colleagues who provide trusted counsel, and professionals who thrive under challenging circumstances.
Intrigued about how the Birkman Assessment?? Download a sample Birkman Report and talk to a Crosworks Career Coach about how this information can make you more confident about your future.