Barriers to Awareness

Being a human in the world right now is not an easy endeavor. External crises dominate headlines: unforeseen climate events, geopolitical tensions, humanitarian challenges. Political upheaval threatens stability. Technology changes accelerate at an unprecedented pace, driving massive business change. As a result, and as Accenture says, “Incremental changes in ways of working and performance are no longer sufficient to compete.”

Our brains are not wired to handle all these inputs, changes, and adaptations—let alone thrive in them. Trying to figure out what to focus on and how to adapt can lead to cognitive overload—or in corporate speak, burnout. In this lightning-fast business environment, the leaders who cultivate self-awareness will navigate uncertainty better, adapt to change quicker, and foster resilience.

The Importance of Awareness

Self-awareness illuminates the most fundamental question: Who am I at this moment in time?

Let’s break that apart:

• Who am I: Where is my true self underneath the barriers I have erected?

• At this moment: Who is showing up right now? What version of myself am I showing? Which masks do I have over my true self?

• In time: What is my current role in the team? The company? The community?

Let’s walk through some exercises to help you—and by extension, the leaders you support— answer these questions.

Who Am I?

So much of our lives are spent trying to live up to a hypothetical ideal. We try to snap the perfect Instagram selfie or craft a thought-provoking LinkedIn post. Yet these actions often distract us from our authentic selves.

In organizations, our lack of authenticity can be a fatal flaw. Employees have a sophisticated insincerity meter, and people leave organizations because of the gap between what leaders say and what they do.

There are infinite personality tests, Cosmopolitan quizzes, guided journals, and therapy techniques to uncover your core self. But my favorite is an easy framework courtesy of Dr. Haley Perlus: identifying your true self as your three best words.

Dr. Haley guides groups to think through the three words that speak to their values, who they are at their best, and when they are the most energized.

Try it out: What are your three best words? If you’re struggling, ask yourself:

• What would your best friend say about you when setting you up on a blind date?

• What would your favorite mentor say in a reference check call?

If all else fails, ask the people around you! If you want to get fancy, use Google or Microsoft forms to generate a one-question anonymous survey which can be turned into a word cloud.

What Gets in My Way?

It would be nice if we showed up as our three best words all the time. Yet it rarely happens. My three words—loving, creative, positive—are in that order deliberately. Because when I’m stressed out, I start to lose my three words. I lose positive first when I start catastrophizing, then I lose my ability to imagine a different reality. I know things are really dire when I start losing trust in those around me.

Why is it so difficult? Because we get in our own way. Our brains are wired to protect us, to maintain our status in the group, to resist change, and fit in. All of this threatens our ability to innovate and thrive. Even worse, our mind devises barriers that prevent us from being our best selves. We tell ourselves that:

• Rejection is worse than death.

• I can’t measure up.

• If you win, I lose.

• Our status in the group is in danger.

• Keep doing what works.

• I’m right and you’re wrong.

These barriers are sneaky. They wend their way into our lives and become our default patterns. But awareness is the antidote.

Try it out: Think about something you’ve been wanting to try but you’re worried won’t go well. What are you really afraid of? Revisit these barriers to see which reflect your deeper fears. Once you’ve identified your fears, reframe the question: If this situation goes well, what will I gain?

What Does This Moment Require of Me?

Solving for “who am I” is key, but it doesn’t necessarily help us understand the moment we’re in. It’s so easy to default to “doomscrolling” or obsessing about doing the right thing. We get stuck in decision paralysis, we get angry, we see others as wrong or evil. Whether it’s choosing a new job path, reaching out to a colleague going through a difficult time, thinking of how to take action in your community, or waking up early to workout, there’s an easy solve: Just do something.

Taking action doesn’t require perfection: it requires movement. Try something! Reflect on what works. Adjust and keep moving.

Try it out: Go through your inbox and find a draft email you’ve been working on. Set a three minute timer, finish it, and send it!

In times of uncertainty, self-awareness is not just a personal journey: it’s a critical leadership skill. Talent development professionals can foster awareness within organizations by designing programs that help employees identify their best selves, understand the barriers in their way, and take purposeful action.

In the words of Anna from Frozen 2, don’t overthink it. Just do the next right thing.