Not getting promoted at work? It might come down to how you see yourself. Research shows that good managers see themselves in exactly the same light that their peers see them. They see the same weaknesses and the same strengths.
Knowing your stuff is not enough, you’ve got to know yourself to get to the top.
How aware are you?
I’m surprised how often people are unaware of their own preferences and behaviour, when I do Myers Briggs sessions.
Myers Briggs measures your preferences in four areas.
-Internal or External thinking.
Internal thinking is, wanting to formulate your answer and double check it in your mind, before sharing it with others. External thinking uses conversation to move your thoughts forward, what we call thinking out loud.
-How you prefer your information.
This indicates whether you enjoy real, actual, factual information or have a preference for ideas, possibilities and what could be.
-How you begin your decision making process.
Do you start your decision making with logic and impartiality, treating everyone the same or do you think of the people and feelings involved first, looking at individual circumstances?
-How do you manage your time and projects?
Is your preference for organizing and planning, do you feel liberated when you make a decision or do you prefer to be flexible, spontaneous and keep your options open as long as possible?
This is a very simplified explanation of Myers Briggs, but it gives you the idea that these are not difficult things to know about yourself. You do them every day.
Yet I always have people in the group who just aren’t sure. They struggle to see a pattern in their own behaviour and are unsure what comes most easily or naturally for them.
Enough about me… what do you think of me?
If we don’t know ourselves, how can we expect others to know us? Have you ever hoped someone else would tell you what you are like? What happens when that person gets it wrong?
We seem to know when they’ve said something about us that doesn’t ring true, but if you’re low on self awareness then it throws you into confusion. “Am I like that? Does everyone see me that way?”
Self awareness is such a simple way to improve your management potential. Pay attention to the things you enjoy, why do you like them? Think about the things that come easily for you, is it easy for everyone?
Be aware of how you recharge your battery, what makes you feel refreshed and revived? Raise your consciousness around how you speak to people, what information do you seek or avoid, how do you approach challenging conversations and how do people respond to you?
Now lead the way…
Understanding these things about yourself puts you in a position to lead others. You know where your strengths are, what you do well, and you can look for ways to use that.
You also recognize what doesn’t come as easily and takes more concentration and energy to accomplish. As a self-aware manager, you are in a great position to capitalize on someone else’s strength to help you in those areas.
Good managers offer consistent support and are conscious of their impact on their team. Build your self-awareness and you’re bound to improve your management skill.
If you’re interested in discovering the Myers Briggs Preferences in your team call me for more information.
Kathy Reeves Consulting 