“95 percent of people believe they are self-aware, but the real number is 10 to 15 percent. That means, on a good day, about 80 percent of people are lying about themselves—to themselves.”
So says Tasha Eurich, author of Insight: The Surprising Truth About How Others See Us, How We See Ourselves, and Why the Answers Matter More Than We Think
So, if you are a leader trying to motivate and guide other human beings, the key question is whether you are one of the 12 to 15 percent of the human race that is actually self-aware. (Hint: the odds are stacked against you.)
Why does this matter? Before you can start managing others, you have to figure out how to manage yourself and understand the impact you're having on other people.
Too many managers dominate conversations, cut others off, and ignore or minimize their contributions… in many cases without realizing they are doing this.
You need self-awareness to spot and eliminate your own counterproductive behaviors. The only way to maintain self-awareness is to work at it constantly. Yes, constantly.