Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness
Definitions
Emotional Intelligence: “the ability to manage oneself and to manage relationships with others – has been identified as among the most important factors in accounting for success in leaders and managers.”
Personal Values: “the core of the dynamics of behavior and place so large a part in unifying personality. Identifies personal standards and moral judgment.”
Cognitive Style: “refers to the manner in which individuals gather and process information… individual differences in cognitive style influence perception, learning problem solving decision making communication and creativity.”
Orientation/Attitude toward Change: “focuses on the methods people use to cope with change in their environment. Identifies adaptability and responsibility.”
Core Self-Evaluation: “a recently developed construct that captures the essential aspects of personality. Identifies underlying personality attributes.”
I would like to think that my self-awareness has not changed but instead has switched position or focus. I just recently started the MSLD program in January 2012 and when I started the program my self-awareness was still trying to focus itself. Many different things were going on in my life at the start of the program and through the duration of the first 9 weeks but I managed to stay focused on what was important.
As I stated earlier, when I started the MSLD program many changes were taking place in my life. My long term relationship was ending and I was learning to be independent again as well as my grandmother was ill and passed during the 7th week of class. My emotional state of mind was everywhere but I was able to stay centered and manage everything that was taking place around me. My emotional intelligence was tested during the start of the program but because my self-awareness was focused on the greater goal (completing my Master’s degree in 2 years with nothing less than a 4.00) I was able to complete the task at hand.
Personal values have always been very important to me regardless of what I was doing in my life. When I started the MSLD program my heart and mind where in a different place and I had to become centered again; for example, when I start a new venture whether it is for pleasure or educational gain I go in 150% and will not allow myself to quit or fail. My personal standards are very high and now they are even higher because I know I can achieve anything when I set my mind to even if I kill myself achieving it.
I tend to think of myself as someone who is relatively grounded when it comes to gathering and processing information but all it takes it for an event in your life to through you off balance and change that process. My cognitive style of gathering and processing information has become more in depth. I am trying to think more critically now of other things and ideas and not as much on myself. I have learned from MSLD 500 that it is okay to take an idea and run with it and not ask 1,000 questions. That was something very new to me and very exciting at the same time. I enjoy being able to express what I keep stored in my brain, expressing my thoughts and opinions is a very empowering feeling.
The 4th core aspect, Orientation/Attitude toward Change, was very much put to the test since the start of my Master’s degree. Learning to be flexible and adapt to change was something I knew I didn’t like to do. I am not a person who enjoys change and I love my routines (I have a ton of them). I have started some new paths and I am learning to relax more but I can’t say this has been easy for me but it was a part of my self-awareness that I was thrown into and I didn’t have a choice. The life events that took place that didn’t allow me to have a choice I feel are some of the most important for experiencing personal growth as an individual.
The last aspect of self-awareness, core self-evaluation, has not changed much since starting the MSLD program or it has not changed enough for me to notice. I believe my personality attributes have not changed in the last 10 weeks.
I believe that self-awareness and understanding each component of self-awareness is extremely important and I would like to think that when I complete my Master’s degree I will look back to this blog posting and hopefully see lots of positive change and growth.
Whetten, D., & Cameron, K. (2011). Developing Management Skills. (8th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
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