Developing ‘Practical Self-Awareness’

The Key to Intentional Influence and Impact – article by Deiric McCann, Genos

Over the years we’ve spent on this planet, each of us has perfected a way of showing up in the world. We are a collection of behaviours that have become second nature. Most of the time, when we interact with others, we do so as our default selves—acting out of habit rather than intention. Sometimes this serves us well, but other times, it doesn’t. If we want to change the way we influence others and impact the world around us, we must closely examine how we show up and become more intentional about it. The first step in this journey is developing self-awareness.

Understanding Emotional Granularity

Lisa Feldman Barrett, a prominent neuroscientist and author, speaks about the concept of emotional granularity. She suggests that once we develop a rich emotional vocabulary, we gain greater control over our emotions and their impact on others. Imagine being able to describe your emotions with precision—identifying not just that you’re happy or sad, but the specific shades of those feelings. This level of detail allows for a deeper understanding of your emotional landscape, leading to better emotional regulation and more intentional interactions.

Developing Practical Self-Awareness

Practical self-awareness is about recognising your habitual behaviours and understanding their impact on your relationships and professional environment. Here are some strategies to help you develop this critical skill:

Reflect on Your Behaviours: Take time to reflect on your daily interactions. Notice when your default behaviours help you connect with others and when they might create barriers. This reflection can be as simple as a few minutes at the end of each day, considering what went well and what could have been better.

Seek Honest Feedback: Ask trusted colleagues and friends for feedback on how you show up. Their insights can provide a different perspective and help you identify areas for improvement that you might not see yourself.

Keep an Emotion Journal: Start an emotion journal to track your feelings throughout the day. Note not only what you feel but also the intensity and triggers of those emotions. Over time, this practice can help you identify patterns and gain a deeper understanding of your emotional responses.

Learn to Name Your Emotions: Expand your emotional vocabulary. Practise naming your emotions with more granularity. Instead of just saying you’re stressed, try identifying whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, or a combination of these. The more precise you can be, the better you can manage and communicate your feelings.

Why Practical Self-Awareness Matters

Developing practical self-awareness is crucial for anyone looking to enhance their emotional intelligence and impact. By understanding and adjusting your default behaviours, you can interact more intentionally and effectively, leading to better outcomes in both personal and professional settings.

© Deiric McCann