How Self-Awareness Can Help You See Yourself Through Other People’s Eyes

Emotional Intelligence Series

Self-awareness is often touted as the cornerstone of personal development, effective leadership, and meaningful relationships. We hear phrases like “Know thyself” and “Be true to yourself” thrown around, but how often do we stop and truly consider what self-awareness means? More importantly, how do we know if our self-perception is accurate or if it’s being distorted by our own biases?

Being self-aware is more than just knowing your strengths and weaknesses. It’s about understanding how you come across to others and being able to see yourself through their eyes. This deeper level of self-awareness is essential for improving communication, developing emotional intelligence, and progressing in your career. But achieving this isn’t always straightforward—especially when our internal biases cloud our judgment. By applying critical thinking models and strategies to challenge our own assumptions, we can get a clearer view of how we’re perceived and use that insight to grow both personally and professionally.