Self-awareness in the workplace might be more distant than originally thought. Although 95% people believe they are self-aware, in reality only 10-15% actually are.
Psychological studies have shown that humans carry a number of unconscious biases, such as the “Halo effect” that allows people to trust in attractive people more.
Another example of unconscious bias that happens often in the workplace is conformity bias, which leads us to agree with the general consensus of coworkers, even if we initially disagreed.
Self-awareness is getting even worse now due to increased technology use.
“The rise of technology is creating more bubbles, where people see a restricted view of realty and lose the ability to view things objectively. Social media algorithms are designed to show us comments and adverts that match our existing thoughts, ideas and biases,” according to Open Access Government.
Lack of self-awareness can cause halt our ability to create meaningful relationships. If we are not able to see how others perceive us, then our actions become distorted which can lead to rifts in the workplace.
Psychologist Tasha Eurich says that the higher we are in the corporate ladder, the less self-aware we become, which could possibly explain the discord that can occur to higher ups and their employees.
“What happens when you’re at the top of the food chain, in particular, is the standards for performance are murkier,” Eurich said. “You are usually in a much more visible role and quite often people are afraid to speak truth to power.”
While technology can hurt our self-awareness, it can also aid us in dissecting our personalities even further. Personality tests can give us an objective view of ourselves and allow companies to create better, more effective training.
Check-ins throughout the workplace can also help break down the self-absorption bubble, while also boosting morale. They allow the worker to take a second out of their day, think about their actions and how they feel about it.
Those who practice self-awareness typically perform better at work, which is a win for themselves and the company they work for.
