How accurate self-assessment at work supports a strong career path

You don’t know what you don’t know. More importantly, if you never stop to consider what you don’t know, you unnecessarily limit yourself and your career. Moving forward by gaining skills and competencies requires an accurate self-assessment so you can see your blind spots and allow room for growth.

In fact, accurate self-assessment ranks among the top qualities found in highly successful individuals in work settings. Daniel Goleman, Ph.D., researched self-awareness and self-assessment in his emotional intelligence work, and he outlined what it means in a post for the EI Consortium:

“Among several hundred managers from twelve different organizations, Accurate Self-Assessment was the hallmark of superior performance. Individuals with the Accurate Self-Assessment competence are aware of their abilities and limitations, seek out feedback and learn from their mistakes, and know where they need to improve and when to work with others who have complementary strengths. Accurate Self-Assessment was the competence found in virtually every ‘star performer’ in a study of several hundred knowledge workers…”

Note the place where he states that individuals who score high on this emotional intelligence skill have awareness of both their abilities and limitations. We have all experienced those people at work who have an over-inflated sense of their skills and contribution, but absolutely no understanding of where they could improve. Equally frustrating are the self-deprecating individuals who don’t fully realize their own value, which causes them to doubt every move they make.

A Personal SWOT Analysis

Professionals with high EQ have the humility to admit their weaknesses, but also the drive and persistence to overcome them. If you can pinpoint a skills gap – and that includes hard skills or soft skills – you can identify ways to increase your own effectiveness and value at work.

You can begin by conducting a simple SWOT analysis on yourself. I am sure you have experienced something similar with teams at work, but have you ever taken the time to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for your own career and personal life?

You can either draw a four-quadrant box or simply create a list for each category. Use the questions below as a place to begin:

Strengths

When do you feel most “in flow”? When do you do your best work?
Which technical, job-related skills do you feel most versed in? What about soft skills like empathy, management ability and effective interpersonal communication?
What other assets exist in your career that can support your success (a strong network, finances, etc.)?

Weaknesses

Do you avoid certain types of projects or tasks due to lack of confidence or skills in those areas?
When do you tend to procrastinate?
What are your most common bad habits at work (disorganization, poor presentation skills, missing deadlines, lack of planning, etc.)?

Opportunities

What technological or market developments might help you grow into a new role or industry in the next 3 to 5 years?
Can you identify a need in your company or elsewhere that nobody else can meet?
Does your organization offer training or education support that will help you gain additional marketable skills?

Threats

Will a lack of skills limit your career options in the next 3 to 5 years?
Are there others competing for similar promotions or roles within your organization?
Could outside forces impact your company, your industry, and your job?

Writing down a simple SWOT analysis periodically can help you develop your self-assessment skills. You might be surprised at what you unearth during this hour or two of self-reflection.

Seek Support

Importantly, accurate self-assessment should not occur in a vacuum. The people in your life can offer you a wealth of information about where you shine and where you could improve.

While actively asking for criticism can make you feel vulnerable and exposed, remember that most important figures in your life want to see you succeed. If someone like your spouse or boss point out a weakness, think of it as truly constructive criticism. A weakness gives you a starting point from which to grow and develop.

It’s also just as likely that these people will help you see and understand your strengths and skills – even ones that hadn’t occurred to you.

To ask for honest feedback, prepare a list of targeted but open-ended questions. Then schedule a short window of time with your supervisor at work, colleagues, or anyone else who works closely with you. Sample questions:

In my time performing this role, what do you think has worked well?
Have you noted any opportunities for me to improve?
Do you have any specific ideas for how I can work on those areas?
What steps should I take to prepare for the next step within the company?
Is there anything I can do to improve communication within our team/department?
Does the company/team need a specific skill or approach that I could develop?

Adjust these questions according to your own career situation or work dynamic. You likely have a sense of where others see room for improvement within the broader context of your organization, so you can draft pinpointed questions to address those needs. Be sure to thank your work colleagues for their feedback.

You can ask for feedback from your loved ones in a more casual way, but open-ended questions still help guide the conversation. Clients and customers can also offer quality feedback, but check with your supervisor before scheduling those conversations or surveys.

Taking a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror should leave you feeling hopeful. We all have weaknesses. The trick is to accept them and to take steps to grow beyond them. Accurate self-assessment should allow you to value your strengths and contributions – and empower you to learn and grow through any gaps that become apparent in the process.

If you would like to develop your career growth potential, and if you would like to strengthen your emotional intelligence skills at work, reach out to me for a complimentary strategy call.