Over the past few years, our practice of working with individuals and groups has made a significant shift for the better.

The incorporation of heavy doses of self-awareness followed by changes in thoughts and emotional composition has produced lasting and sustained impact in the competencies and skills needed for success.  More simply, thoughts and emotions drive action.  Action creates results and success.  Actions and behaviors can be modified in a short timeframe but long-term change comes when core parts of you make a move towards the better.  Personal awareness and understanding is also the starting point for greater mindfulness, enhanced effectiveness as a leader and your own happiness and satisfaction.  This series is going to be devoted to the natural first step in making those long term changes and that is to understand yourself on a deep and core level.  It is only then, that you can redirect some things in your life to achieve greater and more desired results.

A huge reason in committing these practices to a series of articles (and probably some podcasts are coming as well)  is that we have seen other coaches talk about self-awareness without providing the tools to really unlock this power.  To say know yourself is not nearly enough.  A roadmap of how to do it in a significant and meaningful way is needed.  Without that, the command to be self-aware can be frustrating and meaningless.

The coming installments in this series will focus on the what and how to of:

Awareness IMPACT-Motivations

Understanding why you are doing something and if that motivation is really consistent with core values and beliefs.  Motivations can be solid and even pure or they can be designed to hurt and harm.  Many people mask their motivations or are unaware of them entirely.

Awareness IMPACT-Your Influencers

Your inner circle of those that influence your emotions, beliefs and ultimately, your behavior are important.  Understanding why people are connected with you and who you allow influence over you is a nice place of examination.  This also relates closely to motivation as you will now look at the motivations of others (warning:  not all are good).

Awareness IMPACT-Life Patterns

Short-term patterns are easy enough to spot and change.  The more difficult challenge is to look at long-term recurring patterns and learn to replicate the awesome while eliminating the bad ones.  Are their sustained pieces of success showing up for you that can be replicated?  Are there patterns of failed marriages, businesses and relationships that need to be eliminated?  Is there a pattern of sameness?  All are either changeable or repeatable based on your desired outcome.  Think for a minute about the people with multiple failed businesses or marriages that always blame someone else but not look at the long-term pattern for answers.

Awareness IMPACT-Projections

Related to patterns, what you project to others has a significant influence on the world around you and what you achieve.  Your kids become the easiest example because of the degree of influence you have with them.  Your team members are another.  Project positive and successful things and that will be what occurs around you.  Project dysfunction and sadly, that is what will return to you.  Don’t be shocked when your team (or kids) turn out exactly like you.

Awareness IMPACT-Your Purpose

Discovering why you are here may be the final piece of great personal awareness.  We are not built to just pay bills and plan our funeral.  Understanding, and then connecting to, your greater purpose and calling will drive your success greatly.

Awareness IMPACT-Emotions

Your emotions drive your attitude and your attitude drives your behavior.  That simple.  A customer/friend asked me to help him with his verbal tone a few days ago.  His issue is not his tone but the emotional composition driving his tone.

Tim Schneider is the founder of Aegis Learning and has been working with teams and leaders for 25 years.   He generates results, impact and his sole focus is your success.

He is the author of The Ten Competencies of Outstanding Leadership and Beyond Engagement and a widely sought speaker, training facilitator and individual development coach.