Self-awareness is the ability to recognize our thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment. It is essential for responding effectively to our environment. Self-knowledge, on the other hand, is our understanding of our capabilities, attitudes, passions, values, motives, preferences, traits, responsibilities, and commitments—critical for making informed choices about the future.
In this context, I use self-awareness to include self-knowledge.
Why I Believe Self-Awareness Is Underrated Today
Based on my experiences as a professional and later as an L&D consultant, I have observed that self-awareness is often undervalued or rare. Here are a few examples:
- Recent Experience in an MBA College: I conducted a half-day self-discovery program for a group of freshers, but they seemed uninterested and disengaged. I had to actively encourage them to participate. Self-awareness, it seems, is not considered “fun” or “cool” compared to topics like leadership and teamwork.
- A Decade Ago in Bangalore: We asked a batch of first-year college students to draw their “dream tree” to help them reflect on themselves and visualize their future. Over 90% of them focused solely on their careers (with only a few specific options) and philanthropy, indicating a narrow understanding of personal aspirations.
- Challenges in Experiential Learning: Many participants in our experiential learning programs struggled to connect with themselves and share their experiences. They tended to assess situations cognitively and offer opinions rather than express personal feelings. We had to repeatedly encourage them to share their emotions.
- Interviews Over 35+ Years: In my experiences of interviewing candidates, I found that over 70% could not confidently defend their own résumés.
Why Is Self-Awareness (Self-Knowledge) Not Popular?
- Many people are unwilling to acknowledge or admit their strengths, though the reason for this remains unclear.
- Some individuals avoid recognizing their weaknesses or vulnerabilities—these are mostly the people in denial.
- There is a general lack of understanding about self-awareness and its benefits.
- A strong bias for action often takes precedence over self-reflection.
- Self-awareness requires effort and practice, but tools like feedback and journaling are not widely used, even among educated individuals.
- Knowledge of STEM subjects and social awareness tend to be more valued than self-awareness.
The Importance of Self-Knowledge and Awareness
- The only thing we can truly negotiate is ourselves, making self-awareness essential.
- Self-knowledge is a crucial factor in making life and career choices.
- Self-awareness is fundamental to personality development. Personality is the quality of social participation and interpersonal skills. Self-awareness and an understanding of how others perceive us are necessary to refine interpersonal skills.
- Self-leadership begins with self-knowledge. We need to understand ourselves to effectively navigate our future in both life and career.
