Who Me? How Lacking Self-Awareness Can Limit You & What You Can Do About It

Knowing who you are and what drives you matters in every room you enter, read on for four simple tests you can take to increase your self-awareness today!

There is nothing worse than being in a room with someone who has no idea how they are being perceived. When the space is calling for quiet, but someone is speaking loudly across the room. When the moment is calling for sobriety, and someone starts cackling. It's like a toddler banging the keys on a piano, or someone singing loudly off-key.

“ Everyone knows what it feels like to experience someone else doing it, but do you have a sense of how others experience you? "

People often confuse self-awareness with caring about what others think, what others think of you is not your business. However, if you find yourself repeatedly blindsided when receiving feedback personally or professionally it may be time for you to check in with your self-awareness.

Professionally, this could look like having your annual review and feeling surprised by your boss's feedback. Personally this could look like an argument that seemed to come from nowhere with your significant other or a friend, but feels like it's been building up within them for a while. If you've found yourself in this position I encourage you to explore the tests below to learn more about yourself. As with anything no one test can be all knowing, they are however a great place to start as you sharpen your self-awareness.

(1) The Enneagram:

This personality test is one of my personal favorites. After taking the test you will be given a number that aligns with your current personality type 1-9. Once you know "your number" there are hundreds of thousands of articles and books about each type. If you fall in love with the enneagram like I have you will begin to talk about people in relation to their numbers. Prepare to say things like "Oh yeah she's a 1, that's why she nitpicked that article to death!" or "Just like an 8 to say that, rude!"

Click here to take a free enneagram test: https://assessment.yourenneagramcoach.com/

(2) Myers-Briggs Test:

If you've heard someone describe theirselves using letters like INFJ or ESFJ, they are referring to their Myers Briggs type. This test assigns four categories to test takers: introversion or extraversion, sensing or intuition, thinking or feeling, judging or perceiving. One letter from each category is taken to produce a four-letter test result, like "INFJ" or "ESFJ".

Click here to take a free Myers-Briggs test: https://www.16personalities.com/

(3) StrengthsFinder:

This test is great for helping people find and name their strengths (surprise!). The basic Top5 assessment is a great place to start for those that want a basic introduction to what they do best. There are accompanying books and guides for those who want to dig deeper, and a more extensive test for those that want to go beyond their Top5.

Click here to learn more or to take a StrengthsFinder assessment: https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/253868/popular-cliftonstrengths-assessment-products.aspx

(4) 360 Assessment

Do you want to be a better all-around leader? The 360 is one of the best tools out there for leaders/managers to get clear insights on how you and your work are perceived by those you interact with daily. If you talking to someone with broccoli in your teeth you'd want them to tell you, right? The assessment also allows you to assess yourself and see how your self-reflections compare to those you manage and those that manage. Think of the 360 report as stepping into a hall of mirrors, where you are able to see yourself from every angle. From the flattering sides, to that ugly bulge you try to camoflauge, and you'll be all the better for it.

Click here to learn more or to take a 360 assessment: https://www.echospan.com/360-degree-feedback-free-review.asp

Did you take a test today and find out something new about yourself? Tell me all about it in the comments!

-Tiffany