Provided by: Raise Your Game Self-Test Despite the "self" in self-awareness, to ensure accuracy it is important to solicit intentional and purposeful feedback from those who know you best (your inner circle). As comedians know, there's only one measure of whether or not a joke is funny: Does the audience laugh? It sounds simple, but there is real depth to that concept. You may believe you possess the necessary humility, but if the five people closest to you feel otherwise, then guess what? Identify three people that you feel know you the best. They can be friends, family, or colleagues. You need to create a safe environment for them to share their honest thoughts and feelings: Ask them to share the truth as they see it. Explain what it's for and that you'd appreciate constructive criticism. The more honest the feedback, the more helpful and impactful this exercise will be. Ask them to rate you on the following questions on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being low and 10 being high):
Once you've collected their feedback, see how it compares to the other people you gave it to. See how it compares to how you see yourself. Look for trends and patterns. Identify your top strengths and your most glaring weaknesses. What sticks out? It is important not to jump to conclusions or judgment. Remember, this is simply feedback. The results themselves are neither positive nor negative. You decide whether or not to use them in a way that serves you and moves you forward or to use them in a way that hinders you. We can't change what we don't notice. - Tony Schwartz, author and journalist |