Awareness – it is the precursor for self-awareness.
Every morning we wake to a unique environment. Our home, our workplace, our world… each have a complex combination of moments that means we need to be ready to adapt at any given time. To adapt to cranky kids or excited kids, to deadlines or changes, to celebrating an Olympic Games event or surviving a global pandemic…
Photo courtesy of Jake Hills – Unsplash
Furthermore, these environments in which we find ourselves are ever changing throughout the day. In fact, we might find we transition through half a dozen or more environments during any given day. From environments where we have influence such as being a parent, team leader, or decision maker through to those more subservient environments where we provide customer service or deliver services or tasks after that meeting with our boss.
The environment often influences the personal options and impacts we must work with, even with our same personal foundation of confidence and competence. When we have seniority, we tend to behave like a leader and may assume respect, and when we find ourselves in an environment where we have little or no control, we may become deferential or overwhelmed.
Your environment can bring out the best and worst in you. We alter our behaviour to suit the environment. Being aware, means we can be more conscious in our knowledge of its impact and the opportunity we have to choose the way we behave rather than be at its mercy. Examples like
‘road rage’, that undesirable behaviour triggered by an environment where we are surrounded by rude and impatient drivers when we are otherwise calm and patient.
the difference between meeting a stranger in your local cafe as compared to meeting a stranger who happens to be from your home town when you are on the other side of the world – the environment causes that overseas meeting to be much more significant.
being ‘funny’ with some friends, but noticing you slip into being more cynical when you’re with others.
Having an awareness of these changes in our environment gives us the opportunity to reframe our response and be more prepared to deal with the good and the challenging that we will likely face.
Being aware, is like having a balcony view to see the movie of our life playing on the big screen – we have a perspective of the bigger picture. We have more information to support our self-awareness, to understand some of our triggers and responses, to be forewarned about how we may respond.
Take regular moments throughout your day to step up onto the balcony and check out the movie of your life. What is the current context? How well is it playing out right now? In your lead role do you need to be doing anything different?
I’ll be posting every weekday in August. Follow me to benefit from my Adapt in August series and build your capability for adapting to change.
Keep well,
Vicki
My business is helping you with yours…
If you would like further information or to arrange some support in building this skill please don’t hesitate to contact me. I look forward to helping you build your success your way.
Yours in success,
Vicki
