Self Awareness

Definition
Self-awareness is an understanding of your own emotions and ‘triggers’ and how they impact on your own behaviour and/or the behaviour of others. It is also about understanding your own strengths and limitations.

Understanding oneself enables individuals better to understand and relate to others. This behaviour is therefore important as it underpins and enables a number of the other behaviours, including Leading and Developing Others and Relationship Building for Influence.

Sub skills
Level 1 - " Knows own limitations" 

Knows and acknowledges strengths, limitations and preferences. Open about how they are feeling at certain times and in particular situations. Recognises how one’s value base has been shaped by one’s ideas, belief systems and opinions. Recognises when one’s own value systems are offended and how this raises assumptions and biases.

Level 2 - " Recognises emotions" 

Recognises the situations that arouse strong emotions and personal bias or preference, but resists temptation to act on them immediately. Accepts feedback from others without being defensive.

Level 3 - " Understands impact on others" 

Understands how feelings and emotions may impact on performance and controls emotions to minimise negative impact. Maintains a sense of humour and stays calm, even in trying moments.

Level 4 - " Manages emotions" 

Uses coping mechanisms to deal with difficult or emotional situations over time. Sets up support structures to manage stress levels on a proactive basis. Understands need to be strong and positive in the face of adversity but also recognises areas of one’s own weaknesses and when to seek guidance and support.

Assessment
Current methods used to assess ability in the skill.

Benchmarks
Statements that could serve as comparators for ability.

Relevant Higher Order Skills
Behavioural skills