Five Reasons You Should Care About Being Self-Aware

Here at Bright Yellow, we ground everything we do in Self-Awareness.

So why should you care? 

Here are five reasons why self-awareness is key to a more fulfilled, productive, and satisfying relationship with work:

Reason 1: Keeps you cool under pressure

No-one enjoys an emotional outburst at work.

When we're self-aware, we can better recognise and manage our emotions, fostering healthier and more consistent interactions with others. This helps keep conflict and stress low, all things we need in the workplace.

Daniel Goleman is your guy to google when it comes to the importance of self-regulation when it comes to your emotions.   

Reason 2: Helps you make better decisions

The ability to make informed, purpose-driven decisions is a leadership must-have.

Our assumptions, biases, and perceptions play a huge role in decision-making. With more self-awareness, we are better able to spot these triggers, helping us to make choices with a clear head.

The outcome? Decisions that benefit both you and the business, bringing a genuine sense of purpose.

Reason 3: Builds resilient relationships

Strong relationships are an essential tool to build resilience in the workplace - especially as a leader.

According to Carl Rogers, self-awareness is crucial if we are to ever understand others.

When we're tuned in to our own thoughts and feelings, we cultivate empathy—essential for building strong, supportive relationships. These kinds of relationships are a lifeline to manage the curveballs we all face at work.

Reason 4: Improves your productivity and focus

Working well under pressure is a pre-requisite for most jobs these days.

Without open communication and self-reflection, it’s hard to know what we excel at, and where we need a bit more support.

Self-awareness helps you to build a really clear picture on what your strengths are, and where you’re not. Armed with this knowledge, you can improve your productivity and focus by putting effort into tasks you excel at, and ask for help with those you aren’t.

Work smarter, not harder!

Reason 5: Enjoy work more

When we do a task or job that aligns with what we value most, it really fills up our cup. It’s intrinsically very rewarding which we all need to feel properly satisfied at work.

As a result, self-awareness is fundamental to increasing our sense of satisfaction. By knowing our values and what really lights up our fire, we can intentionally focus our time and effort tasks that are most rewarding, leading to a relationship with work that’s both purposeful and more fulfilling.

Feeling ready to learn more about yourself?

Self-Awareness isn’t a once and done job — it’s a continuous process that requires reflection, feedback, and an openness to explore. 

By understanding yourself and applying what you learn to your day to day, you lay the foundation for a healthier relationship with work, more of the time.