Squiggly Skill Sprint Day 4: Self-awareness

We’re on Day 4 of the Squiggly Careers Skill Sprint, and today’s topic was a very important one; Self-awareness about asking for prioritising work. Link: https://www.amazingif.com/listen/skills-sprint-self-awareness/

I often say to people that the most important skill someone can have is being able to reflect on themselves and the world around them. It is very easy to coast in your career, and indeed your life, using skills that come naturally to you. You may not be aware of what mistakes you are making, or what opportunities you are missing. You may not give yourself credit for what you are doing well. Or you may not be mindful of what actually drives & motivates you, and could be stuck in a rut.

I was thinking that this podcast tied in very well to the episode on feedback before Sarah said it. That is a massive callback. because you can get so much assistance from having conversations with people. As I said in a previous post, I only realised I had a superpower when a colleague mentioned it to me, and I thought everyone would find that easy.

That’s where I give a lot of credit to amazingIf in my development. Through books & training, I now have a set of questions and exercises I can use with people. Through a weekly touchpoint at Podplus, I have at least 30 minutes in the week where I can carve out some time for discussion & reflection.

I will also say that journaling is something that I’ve struggled with. I’m looking at a bookshelf right now full of notebooks that are partially filled. There is one that is so nice that I’m scared to waste it on my ramblings.

Saying that, I’m going to give myself some credit. I’m obviously using this sprint as a way to have a writing prompt each day, and to get my thoughts out to the community. I’m at 1200 words now, and have a lot of notes for things that haven’t made it into these posts. If this has done nothing other than a 300 word-a-day writing habit, that’s not a bad result.