We are lousy self-evaluators Self-management begins with self-awareness

A FEW weeks ago, I was in Penang speaking to the Motorola team on leadership. Our discussion soon drifted around self-awareness. Self-awareness is a key leadership trait. Yet, the biggest challenge faced is evaluating oneself. It may well be the hardest thing in the world.

For example, 95% of all parents think their children are above average. More than 98% of us believe that our leadership skill is above average. Most people believe they would be in the “low-risk” category when it comes to their inclination to get heart-attacks or serious illnesses, regardless of their current exercise regime. The majority of people are unrealistically optimistic about their own health risks compared with their peers. Research shows that most university students do a far better job predicting the longevity of their roommates’ romantic relationships than their own.