Self-Awareness & Emotional Intelligence: A Super Power

At StrengthsTrail, we often say self-awareness is the foundation of everything; the place where real growth begins. Some call it a “meta-skill” for the 21st century, but we prefer to think of it as a superpower… the ability to truly know yourself and how you show up in the world.

Dr. Tasha Eurich talks about the two sides of self-awareness:
- Internal: understanding your own values, emotions, and patterns of thought.
- External:  seeing yourself through the eyes of others.

Now we are going to let you in on a home truth! While most of us believe we’re self-aware, research suggests only about 15% of people actually are. That gap matters, because self-awareness underpins everything from emotional intelligence to decision-making and authentic leadership.

So what’s one practical way to grow your external self-awareness? Ask for feedback. But do it creatively. Try asking trusted peers or mentors, “What three words come to mind when you think of me?” Then compare their list with your own. Where they overlap, that’s your personal brand in action. Where they differ, you might find blind spots… or hidden strengths waiting to be developed. Or if the people around you struggle to give constructive feedback that helps you, set a hypothetical bar much higher than your current role / expectations and ask them “what’s the difference between me today and what you would see of someone at that hypothetical bar?” Sometimes, by making it hypothetical, you give permission for people to push further when it’s technically not feedback for you, except it still is! 

We love using Gallup’s CliftonStrengths to help clients validate what they already sense about themselves and highlight the things that they might be overlooking.

Self-awareness also shapes how we handle disagreement. Healthy debate, rooted in trust and curiosity, strengthens relationships and sparks innovation.

So this week, try noticing one area where you might not see yourself clearly. What feedback could help you understand your impact more fully? Now, go out and get it!