Self-Awareness for Accountability
Self-awareness is like the mirror you hold up to yourself—it's the ability to recognize and understand your emotions, thoughts, and actions, and how they influence your decisions and relationships. When you’re self-aware, you know how your behavior impacts others, and you can make intentional choices that align with your values. This is essential for building trust and taking accountability for your actions.
Being self-aware doesn’t mean having everything figured out; it means being open to learning, adjusting, and growing. Leaders who practice self-awareness can identify their strengths and acknowledge areas where they can improve. At the Morgan County Probate Office, understanding your emotions and actions helps you navigate your daily tasks, whether you're managing responsibilities, assisting clients, or working with your colleagues. Self-awareness enables you to respond to challenges with clarity and authenticity, making it easier to align your actions with your goals.
By becoming more self-aware, you can communicate more effectively, build stronger relationships, and promote an environment of accountability, benefiting both the office and the community you serve.
Self-Assessment: Self-Awareness for Accountability
Please take a few moments to answer the following self-reflection questions. Where can you identify opportunities for growth in your leadership and daily life?
Do I regularly pause to consider how my words or actions impact my coworkers?
How often do I notice and understand my emotional reactions throughout the workday?
Can I accurately name my strengths and areas I’d like to improve?
When someone gives me feedback, am I open to it, or do I find myself feeling defensive?
Do I recognize when stress or frustration is influencing my decisions or interactions?
How comfortable am I admitting when I’m wrong or when I’ve made a mistake?
Do I seek feedback proactively to help uncover things I might be missing about myself?
Do my interactions and responses match the kind of person and coworker I want to be?
Reflect on these questions thoughtfully and answer them with honesty. Let your responses guide you in evaluating your self-awareness and in identifying areas where you can grow and improve.
“We are not here to judge each other but to help each other be accountable to our own potential.”
Accountability begins with understanding yourself. Leaders who aren’t self-aware often miss the impact of their behaviors, making it difficult to take responsibility for their actions. Without this awareness, you might overlook your blind spots or find yourself repeating mistakes instead of learning from them. Reflecting on your actions regularly helps you notice patterns, manage your reactions, and take intentional steps toward improvement.
Seeing Your Blind Spots
Without self-awareness, it’s easy to unintentionally get in your own way. When someone points out a problem or a mistake you've made, do you:
Feel defensive and rush to justify your actions?
Become frustrated and tune out the feedback?
Assume the other person simply misunderstood your intentions?
These responses are natural but can block accountability. With self-awareness, you can pause, reflect, and ask yourself:
What can I learn from this feedback?
Could there be some truth I’m reluctant to acknowledge?
How can I use this insight to improve my decisions and actions?
Practicing self-awareness helps you shift away from emotional reactions and toward productive learning opportunities.
Building Better Relationships
Have you ever worked alongside someone who didn’t realize the effect of their behavior on those around them? Maybe they unintentionally shut down conversations or ignored valuable input. A lack of self-awareness can undermine trust and create unnecessary tension.
Leaders who cultivate self-awareness:
Notice how their emotions affect their interactions.
Take responsibility for their impact on others.
Adjust their communication approach depending on the situation.
Adapting Through Accountability
Every situation you encounter is different, and self-awareness allows you to adapt your response effectively. Accountable leaders know how to:
Recognize when a different approach might be necessary.
Accept responsibility when something isn't working and proactively seek solutions.
Learn from their mistakes to avoid repeating them.
For instance, if a colleague shares that your decisions feel rushed, an accountable leader would pause, reflect, and consider how they can improve their decision-making process. Simply taking the time to invite input before finalizing decisions can significantly enhance trust and collaboration within the office
“Excellence is the result of caring more than others think is wise, risking more than others think is safe, dreaming more than others think is practical, and expecting more than others think is possible.”
Unintentionally Unapproachable
Erica, a supervisor, always considered herself approachable and supportive. She valued efficiency and liked giving quick, clear answers, assuming her coworkers appreciated her straightforward style. If someone had an issue, she expected they'd just speak up.
After a recent office feedback session, Erica was surprised by comments like, "Erica seems too rushed to really listen," and, "I sometimes feel like Erica doesn't want to be bothered with my questions." Erica felt puzzled; she'd always encouraged coworkers to approach her whenever needed, so why were they hesitant?
That night, while watching TV, Erica noticed a scene where a manager hurriedly gave instructions without looking up from her screen. The employees hesitated, clearly unsure if the manager was truly listening. Erica laughed at first, but then stopped abruptly. Do I act like that sometimes?
The Self-Awareness Moment:
The next morning, Erica began paying close attention to her interactions. She realized she often responded to questions while distracted by emails, rarely made eye contact, and answered in short, hurried sentences. Although she didn't intend to appear unapproachable, her behavior communicated otherwise.
Determined to improve, Erica made deliberate changes. She started making eye contact, paused to fully listen before responding, and asked follow-up questions to show genuine interest. Within weeks, coworkers seemed more comfortable approaching her, shared more openly, and appeared more relaxed during interactions.
Erica discovered self-awareness isn't only about what you say, but how your actions affect those around you.
The lesson: Leaders with strong self-awareness understand the impact of their tone, body language, and communication style on others. Small, thoughtful adjustments can significantly improve trust, communication, and workplace relationships.
Many people assume they’re self-aware, but the truth is it takes practice and reflection to really see ourselves clearly. The good news? Small, consistent habits can make a big difference.
Here are a few practical ways to grow your self-awareness at work:
Make Reflection Part of Your Routine: Take a few quiet minutes at the end of the day to think back. What went well? What felt off? Ask yourself: Did I respond the way I wanted to? Did I take time to listen, or did I rush through a conversation? Reflection helps you spot patterns that might need your attention.
Learn Your Triggers: We all have moments that set us off. Maybe it’s last-minute changes or being interrupted. When you feel stress or frustration building, pause and ask, What’s really bothering me here? Taking a breath before reacting helps you stay in control and respond with intention, not emotion.
Ask for Honest Feedback: It can be hard to see our blind spots on our own. A trusted coworker or supervisor can help you see things from another perspective. Ask open questions like, Is there anything I do that makes it hard to speak up? or What’s one thing I could do better in our conversations? Listen fully—without explaining or defending—and reflect on what you hear.
Pay Attention to How You Communicate: It’s not just what you say. It’s how you say it. Your body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions all send a message. Do you look people in the eye? Does your tone match your intent? Try to match your delivery with the respect and clarity you want others to feel.
Choose One Area to Grow: Self-awareness grows best when it’s focused. Pick one small thing to work on—a communication habit, a reaction, or a leadership skill. Maybe you want to ask more questions before jumping in with a solution, or pause longer before replying during tough conversations. Track your progress and check in with yourself as you go.
Becoming more self-aware isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being open, paying attention, and continuing to grow.
When it comes to accountability, self-awareness is where it all begins. The more you understand your emotions, habits, and impact on others, the easier it becomes to take responsibility for your actions and lead with clarity. It’s not about overthinking every move. It’s about pausing long enough to notice your patterns and choosing to grow from them.
In a close-knit office, these small shifts matter. The way you respond during a disagreement, the tone you use in a quick hallway exchange, or the way you handle feedback—they all leave an impression. When you lead with self-awareness, you create space for trust, communication, and meaningful change.
Self-awareness lays the groundwork for how we handle feedback. Next, we’ll explore how being in tune with yourself helps you receive input with clarity and use it to grow.
Reflection Questions:
What is one habit I can change this week to improve how I respond in stressful moments?
How do I usually react when I’m frustrated or overwhelmed, and how can I respond more constructively next time?
What is one area of my work where I can be more intentional and self-aware starting today?
How can I use self-awareness to improve a current relationship or communication challenge?
Expand your understanding of the importance of Self-Awareness with the following resources. Use this opportunity to refine your leadership skills and navigate challenges with the care and professionalism that define The MCPO Way.
What Self-Awareness Really Is (and How to Cultivate It)
Daniel Goleman Introduces Emotional Intelligence (5:31)
Increase your self-awareness with one simple fix (17:17)
Tasha Eurich, TEDxMileHigh