Developing Self-AwarenessKamal Uddin Ahmed Ph.D.NSU MBA HRM 631Spring 16, Tuesday, 19 January 2016

A Model for Developing Management SkillsComponentsContentsObjectives1Skill assessmentSurvey instruments,Role playsAssess current level of skill competence and knowledge; create readiness to change2Skill learningWritten texts, behavioral guidelinesTeach current principles and present a rationale for behavioral guidelines3Skill analysisCasesProvide examples of appropriate and inappropriate skill performance. Analyze behavioral principles and reasons they work4Skill practiceExercises, Simulations, Role playsPractice behavioral guidelines. Adapt principles to personal style. Receive feedback and assistance5Skill applicationAssignments (behavioral and written)Transfer classroom learning to real-life situations. Foster ongoing personal development

Developing Managerial and Leadership competencies : The Learning ModelApplyNew skills to your work settingAssess your current knowledge and behaviorLearn best practices and why they workAnalyze successful and unsuccessful casesPractice competencies and obtain feedback

Key dimensions of self awarenessKnowledge of the self - core of human behavior : Know thyselfSelf reverence, self-knowledge, self-control, these three alone lead to sovereign power---Alfred TennysonMost oft quoted on self - Poloniouss advice in Hemlet To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man

Concept of Emotional Intelligence the ability to manage oneself and to manage relationship with others (one of the most important factor for success in managers and leaders)Self awareness - crucial aspect of Emotional Intelligence in predicting success More powerful than cognitive Intelligence or Intelligent Quotient

She/he that would govern others must first master herself/himselfSelf Management, depends on - Self awarenessDeveloping self control, clarifying priorities and goals (help individuals create direction for own life) Effective management of time and stress(help individuals adapt to and organize surroundings)

Problems of Personal ManagementRecognized symptoms - Time pressuresExperienced stressSymptoms are linked to more fundamental problems of self awareness and out of balance prioritiesknowledge of oneself- self awareness- self insight- self understandingessential to ones productive personal and interpersonal functioning andin understanding and empathizing with other people

Techniques and methods long available for achieving self knowledgegroup methodsmeditation techniquesaltered consciousness proceduresaromatherapyassorted messagesphysical exercise regimensbiofeedback

The EnigmaConnection between Ones self-concept and ones feeling about others - Eric FrommHatred against oneself is inseparable from hatred against othersSelf-awareness and self-acceptance are prerequisites for psychological health, personal growth, and the ability to know and accept others - Carl Rogers

Brouwer asserted : Function of self examination is to lay foundation for insight without which no growth can occurInsight must consciously or unconsciously precede change in behavior Insights real, genuine glimpses of ourselves as we really are - are reached only with difficulty and sometimes with real psychic painInsights are the building blocks of growthSelf examination is a preparation for insight, a groundbreaking for the seeds of self understanding that gradually bloom into changed behavior

Knowledge we posses about ourselves, which make up our self concept, is central to improving our management skills.Empirical evidence suggests that Individuals who are more self-aware are healthier, perform better in managerial and leadership roles, and are more productive at workSeeking knowledge of the self seems to be enigma. It is a prerequisite for and motivator of the growth and improvement. But it may also lead to stagnation because of the fear of knowing more

The sensitive linePoint at which individuals become defensive or protective when encountering information about themselves that is inconsistent with their self concept or when encountering pressure to alter their behaviorWhile crossing the sensitive line the response is known as threat rigidity response.

When individuals are threatened, when they encounter uncomfortable information, or when uncertainty is created, they tend to become rigid. They hunker down, protect themselves, and become risk averse.Individuals become psychologically and emotionally rigid when they encounter information that is a threat to their self concept. Crossing the sensitive line creates rigidity and self-preservation

In such defensiveness, how can increased self-knowledge and personal change occur ?Information that is verifiable, predictable and controllable is less likely to cross the sensitive line than information without those characteristics.If an individual can test the validity of the discrepant information If the information is not unexpectedIf there is some control over what, when and how much information is received,

The feedback is more likely to be heard and accepted Self assessment instruments have been used in research The reliability and validity of the information have been established One can gain important insight about oneself from resultant scores of those instruments

The second answer in overcoming resistance to self-examination Role of other people in helping insight to occurWe must interact with and disclose ourselves to othersSelf disclosure is a key to improvement in self awarenessA lack of self-disclosure not only inhibits self awareness but also may adversely affect other aspects of managerial skill developmentLow self-disclosures are less healthy and more self-alienated than high self-disclosuresInvolving others in the process of self-understanding is a critical aspect of ones personal growth.

The support and feedback individuals receive from others during the process of self disclosure, besides helping to increase feedback and self awareness, helps information contribute to greater self-awareness without crossing the sensitive line.

Understanding and Appreciating individual DifferencesDevelop the ability to diagnose important differences among others with whom you interact. Managing diversity - Individuals effectiveness as a manager is closely related to his/her ability to recognize, appreciate and ultimately utilize key, fundamental differences among others.The primary sources of diversity are gender, age, culture and ethnicity

this chapter intends through self awareness to help better understand own uniqueness as an individual to become better equipped to manage oneselfto help diagnose, value, and utilize the differences one find in other people

Self-knowledge will help you to understand your own taken for granted assumptions, trigger points, sensitive line, comfort zone, strengths and weaknesses, and so forth.This knowledge is useful for all of us to change fundamental dimensions of ourselvesIt helps make our interactions with others more effective and insightfulIt helps us gain a more complete understanding of our potential for contributing value in our future career roles and our special strengths relative to others

Self-knowledge allows us to recognize our own special gifts and strengths and to capitalize on our own talents

Being aware of and empathetic toward, the different perspectives, needs, and inclinations of other people is a key part of emotional intelligence and interpersonal maturity

Research on organizational failure has repeatedly demonstrated that a lack of diversity in the composition of key decision making bodies makes it difficult for them to recognize changes in their environment and to respond in appropriately new and novel ways (Cameron, Kim, & Whetten, 1987)

Differences versus distinctions (we observe differences and we create distinctions)

Important Areas of Self AwarenessFour most crucial areas self-awareness that are key in developing successful managementPersonal valuesLearning styleOrientation toward changeInterpersonal orientation

These have been found to be most important predictors of various aspects of effective managerial performance such as Achieving life successPerforming effectively in teamsCompetent decision makingLife long learning and developmentCreativityCommunication competencySelf-empowerment

1.Personal values Values are among the most stable and enduring characteristics of individuals. Foundation, on which attitudes and personal preferences are formed. Basis for crucial decisions, life directions, and personal tastes. They help define our morality and our conceptions of what is good. Much of what we are is a product of the basic values we have developed throughout our lives. Core of the dynamics of behavior Plays a large part in unifying personalityAn individuals basic standards about what is good and bad, worthwhile and worthless, desirable and undesirable, true and false, moral and immoral

All other attitudes, orientations, and behaviors arise out of an individuals values

Two major types of values areInstrumental valuesTerminal values

Research findings show relationships of personal development to successful managerial performance in these two types of values

Values development is connected to ethical decision making so the implications of managerial ethics is important

Learning Style

Manner in which individuals gather and process information Individual thought processes, perceptions, andmethods for acquiring and storing information. Determines not only what kind of information is received by an individual, but how that information is interpreted, judged, and responded to.

Empirical research linking learning style to managerial behavior is to be discussed

Information gathering dimensionInformation evaluation dimension

Orientation toward change

methods people use to cope with change in their environment. identifies the adaptability of individuals. includes the extent to which individuals are tolerant of ambiguous conditions andextent to which they are inclined to accept personal responsibilityfor their actions under changing conditions.

In the future all of us will be faced with increasingly fragmented, rapidly changing, tumultuous conditions. It is important that you become aware of your orientation toward adapting to these conditions

Two important dimensions are Locus of controlIntolerance of ambiguity

4.Interpersonal orientationtendency to interact in certain ways with other peopledetermines the behavior patterns that are most likely to emerge in interactions with others. extent to which an individual is open or closed, assertive or retiring, controlling or dependent, affectionate or aloof depends to a large degree on interpersonal orientation.

Aspects of self awareness in totalitymany other aspects of self-awareness could be considered emotions, attitudes, temperament, personality, and interestsBut all these aspects of the self are related fundamentally to the four core concepts discussed here.

What we value, how we feel about things, how we behave toward others, what we want to achieve, and what we are attracted to all are strongly influenced by our values, learning styles, orientation toward change and interpersonal orientation.These are the most important building blocks on which other aspects of the self emerge.

Four aspects of self-awareness along with their functions in defining the self concept ValuesDetermine personal standards and moral judgmentAttitudes (toward change)Determine adaptability and responsibilityLearning styleDetermines information acquisition and evaluationInterpersonal needsDetermine preferences and interaction patterns

Cultural Values DimensionsValues DimensionsExplanationExample of Countries with DominanceUniversalismSocietal rules and norms are valuedUSA, Switzerland, Norway, SwedenParticularismIndividual relationships are valuedKorea, Venezuela, China, IndonesiaIndividualismIndividual contributions are valuedUSA, Nigeria, Denmark, AustriaCollectivismTeam contributions are valuedMexico, Indonesia, Japan, PhilippinesAffectiveShowing emotions are valued Iran, Spain, France, SwitzerlandNeutralUnemotional responses are valuedKorea, Ethiopia, China, JapanSpecificSegregating lifes roles is valuedHolland, Sweden, Denmark, UKDiffuseIntegrating lifes roles is valuedChina, Nigeria, Singapore, KoreaAchievementPersonal accomplishment is valuedUSA, Norway, Canada, AustriaAscriptionInherent attributes are valuedEgypt, Indonesia, Korea, Czech Rep.Past & PresentPast is tightly connected to futureFrance, Japan, UKFutureFuture is disconnected but valuedUSA, HollandInternalIndividual control is valuedUSA, Canada, Austria, UKExternalControl comes from outside forcesCzech Republic, Japan, Egypt, China

Core aspects of Self-Awareness and the Managerial ImplicationsValues priorities and values maturityAttitudes toward changeLearning styleInterpersonal orientationSelf-understandingand self-managementEmotional IntelligenceUnderstanding differences in others

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