Putting effort into developing self-knowledge is important for career success and satisfaction. By tuning into what motivates and drives you, what makes you tick, what strengths you possess, and your areas for development, you can find a better career match and enjoy a more fulfilling work life.
The name of this competency is somewhat misleading. Although its focus is the self, its development relies not only on self-reflection but also on actively seeking input from others. Here are three steps you can take to improve your self-knowledge.
- Take a personality test. As PAFs we use the True Colors personality assessment. However, you might find it worthwhile to take the time and complete other assessments that might better inform you of your strengths and weaknesses.
- Actively think about what emotions you experience during a workday. By tuning to what drives you, what makes you happy, and what upsets you in your job, you might uncover what type of tasks or challenges are most fulfilling for you. This information could provide some insight for what career paths you can follow as you pursue other work opportunities.
- Seek feedback from your supervisor and colleagues. While self-reflection is valuable in the development of this competency, it is no surprise that relying on self-assessment is not sufficient. We often are not the best judge of our strengths and weakness as we can simultaneously underestimate and overestimate ourselves depending on the scenario. You should not rely solely on formal performance reviews, but engage with your supervisors and colleagues in these feedback discussions throughout the year. Doing so will allow you to work on projects that utilize your strengths, but also give you time to take advantage of opportunities to remedy your weaknesses.
What are some steps that you take to develop self-knowledge? Let us know by emailing [email protected].