Types of Self-Awareness

Psychologists often break self-awareness down into two different types,

either public or private.

Public Self-Awareness
This type emerges when people are aware of how they appear to others.
Public self-awareness typically emerges in situations when people are at the
center of attention.

This type of self-awareness often compels people to adhere to social norms.

When we are aware that we are being watched and evaluated, we often try to
behave in ways that are socially acceptable and desirable.

Public self-awareness can also lead to evaluation anxiety in which people

become distressed, anxious, or worried about how they are perceived by
others.

Private Self-Awareness
This type happens when people become aware of some aspects of
themselves, but only in a private way. For example, seeing your face in the
mirror is a type of private self-awareness.

How to Improve Your Self-Awareness

So how do you grow self-awareness? There are many ways you can practice being present with
yourself and your emotions, which, in turn, can help improve your self-awareness.5

Meditation

Meditation can be an especially useful practice because you don't have to worry about changing
anything—simply noticing what happens during a meditation can bring greater awareness of your
thoughts and feelings.

Maybe you notice that you hold tension in your body by clenching your jaw, for instance, or that you
tend to worry so much about the future that it's hard to be in the present moment. This is all
valuable information that can help you get to know yourself and your tendencies.6

Journaling
Journaling is a practice in self-reflection that can help you notice the ways in which you tend to think
and behave, and even which areas in your life you may wish to improve. It can be a therapeutic way
to gain insight into your life events and relationships.7

Talk Therapy

During therapy—such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)—a therapist works with you to address
negative thought patterns or behaviors.

By understanding the underlying cause of your negative thoughts, for instance, you're in a more
advantageous position to change them and use healthy coping mechanisms instead.8

Develop Your Emotional Intelligence

Self-awareness and emotional intelligence (EQ) go hand in hand. EQ refers to a person's ability to
perceive their own emotions as well as the emotions of other people. Someone with a high EQ is
able to effectively respond to emotions with empathy and compassion.

Of course, no one is perfect, and EQ is a skill like any other. But by learning to express your own
emotions in a healthy way, and practicing active listening in your relationships, you're contributing to
the expansion of your own self-awareness as well.

What are the five elements of self-awareness?

The five elements of self-awarenesses are:

Consciousness: This means being aware of your internal experiences, including your emotions and
thoughts.

Self-knowledge: This element is focused on your understanding of who you are, including your
beliefs, values, and motivations.

Emotional intelligence: This element is focused on the ability to understand and manage emotions.

Self-acceptance: This aspect is centred on accepting who you are and showing yourself compassion
and kindness.

Self-reflection: This element of self-awareness involves being able to think deeply about your
feelings, thoughts, and goals in order to gain an even better understanding of who you are and your
place in the world.

Dimensions of Body language

Proxemics- Proxemics in communication involves the distance between ourselves and
others when having a conversation, delivering a speech or a lecture, or sharing an intimate
moment. The amount of space we leave between the other person and ourselves can signal
our level of trust or relationship with that person.
Haptics- (communication through touch). refers to the ways in which people and animals
communicate and interact via the sense of touch

Oculesics- a subcategory of kinesics, is the study of eye movement, behaviour, gaze, and
eye-related nonverbal communication.

Paralanguage-refers to the non-verbal aspects of speech that adds layers of emotional

context, emphasis, and intention, shaping how the message is interpreted by listeners. It
encompasses everything from the volume and pitch of your voice to the pace and rhythm of
your speech, as well as non-fluency features like hesitations, fillers ("um," "uh"), and pauses.
Unlike other forms of nonverbal communication like body language, paralanguage is
specifically tied to the way we use our voice.

Kinesics- field of nonverbal communication solely concerned with the interpretation of

nonverbal behaviours that are associated with body movement, gestures, posture, facial
expression and eye contact.

Sign language
Chromatics- Chromatic is a type of non-verbal communication. In this type of
communication, colours are used to communicate the messages. It is helpful in cross-culture
communication.

Chronemics- One often overlooked but incredibly influential aspect is chronemics, the study
of time as it relates to communication

Olfactics-is a channel of nonverbal communication referring to the various ways people

and animals communicate and engage in social interaction through their sense of smell.

Cultural differences in Body language

Greetings with a handshake
Even the simple handshake can vary from culture to culture. A handshake is widely accepted
as the norm, however you’ll need to vary the firmness depending on the location.
Western culture typically perceives a strong handshake as authoritative and confident,
whereas many parts of the Far East perceive a strong handshake as aggressive, and usually
bow instead.
In parts of Northern Europe, a quick, firm handshake is the norm. In parts of Southern
Europe, Central and South America, a handshake is longer and warmer, with the left hand
usually touching the clasped hands or elbow.
Beware that in Turkey, a firm handshake is considered rude and aggressive. In certain African
countries, a limp handshake is the standard (Guide to African handshakes). Men in Islamic
countries never shake the hands of women outside the family.

Facial expressions
Many facial expressions appear to be universal and recognised all over the globe.

Research carried out by the Paul Ekman Group, an American Psychologist, showed that over
90% of common facial expressions were identified by people in very different cultures. Over
10,000 facial expressions were created for the study and shown to different western cultures
and isolated, pre-literate African groups.
In general, there are seven different facial expressions which correspond to distinct universal
facial emotions:

o Happiness – Raising and lowering of mouth corners, cheeks raised, and muscles
around the eyes are tightened.
o Sadness – lowering of mouth corners and raising inner portion of brows.
o Surprise – Arching of eyebrows, eyelids pulled up and sclera exposed, mouth
open.
o Fear – Brows arched and pulled together, eyes wide open, mouth slightly open.
o Disgust – Eyebrows lowered, upper lip raised, nose wrinkled, cheeks raised.
o Anger – Brows lowered, eyes bulging, lips pressed firmly.

Hand gestures
We use gestures as a way to emphasize points and illustrate what we are saying.

Hand gestures can mean very different things in different cultures; the ‘OK’ sign in Greece,
Spain or Brazil means you are calling someone an a**hole. In Turkey, it’s meant to be an
insult towards gay people.

A thumbs up in America and European cultures is an indicator of a job well done, however in
Greece or the Middle East, it can mean ‘up yours’

Eye contact
In most western countries, eye contact is a sign of confidence and attentiveness. We tend to
assume that if someone looks away while we are talking to them, they’re disinterested and
looking for someone else to talk to.
In many Middle Eastern countries, same-gender eye contact tends to be more sustained and
intense than the western standard. In some of these countries, eye contact beyond a brief
glance between the sexes is deemed inappropriate.
In many Asian, African, and Latin American countries, however, this unbroken eye contact
would be considered aggressive and confrontational. These cultures tend to be quite
conscious of hierarchy, and avoiding eye contact is a sign of respect for bosses and elders.
In these parts of the world, children won’t look at an adult who is speaking to them, and nor
will employees to their bosses.
Eye contact variation by culture:
Used a lot in regions such as the Middle East, Mediterranean cultures, Europeans, and Latin
Americans.
Used often in much of Northern Europe and North America
Used somewhat carefully in cultures in Africa, Middle East, Korea and Thailand
Used carefully in most of the Far East

Moving your head

In some parts of India, people tilt their head from side to side to confirm something and
demonstrate that they are actively listening. The side-to-side head movement originates from
British occupation, as the occupied Indian people were afraid to ever gesture ‘no’ to soldiers
but wanted to show signs of understanding.

Physical contact variation by culture:

High Contact cultures tend to stand close when speaking and make physical contact more
often. Latin America, Southern Europe, and most Middle Eastern nations are examples.

Medium Contact cultures stand quite close when speaking and will touch on occasion. Such
cultures include Northern Europe and North America.

Low Contact cultures stand at a greater distance and generally avoid physical contact. The
Far East is an example.

What Is Business Etiquette?

Business etiquette refers to accepted rules for behaviour and communication in a professional
environment. It affects relationships between coworkers, managers and clients, which can
impact the health of an organisation and its culture. Having clear expectations of conduct can
contribute to a professional, productive and respectful workplace for both employees and
management. While businesses typically have their own rules for etiquette, some general
professional rules persist in most work environments. Elements of business etiquette often
include:
Polite speech and mannerisms
Professional body language
Consistent punctuality
Adherence to dress codes
Clean, well-groomed appearance
Interpersonal communication
Types Of Etiquette for Business
You may practice etiquette differently depending on the situation and the environment. Here
are some common types of etiquette that may help you succeed professionally:
Networking etiquette
The term networking refers to making connections within the community or your industry.
These connections can be invaluable for job seekers, as they can help them communicate
with potential employers. The people in your network can recommend resources you can use
to excel in your role, such as tools for creating sales leads or continuing education
programmes in your field. Here are some ways you can maintain a professional network
through etiquette:
Consider how you can create mutually beneficial relationships with your contacts.
Ask contacts about themselves, their professional backgrounds and their career goals.
When meeting with a group of professionals, make sure you include everyone in the
conversation.
Follow up with people you meet by offering something that may be of value to them, like an
interesting article or helpful resource.
Interview etiquette
A comprehensive understanding of etiquette guidelines during an interview can help you
make a positive impression on the hiring manager. Maintaining professional behaviour
throughout the interview may be as important to the interviewer as your responses to their
questions, so you might consider reviewing basic etiquette before you meet with them. Here
are some ways you can show a hiring manager your professionalism in an interview:
Arrive five to ten minutes before your interview.
Wear clean, formal clothing and shoes and maintain a groomed appearance.
Allow the interviewer to initiate the greeting and respond accordingly.
Sit up straight and make eye contact when answering questions.
Keep your mobile phone turned off and kept in a pocket, briefcase or purse.
If asked about your current or previous managers or colleagues, speak positively about them.
Post-interview etiquette
Following up with hiring managers after an interview is a polite way to differentiate yourself
from other candidates, express your interest in the role and encourage the hiring manager to
contact you again. You can practise post-interview etiquette by writing an email to the
interviewer after you meet with them to highlight your continued interest in the role and your
appreciation for the opportunity. Here are some ways you can make a positive impression in a
follow-up email:
Keep the email concise and professional.
Thank the interviewer again for their time and consideration.
Reiterate your interest in the role and share why you think you are a suitable candidate.
Mention aspects of the interview you found notable.
Share details about your professional background you forgot to include in the interview.
Introduction etiquette
When meeting someone for the first time, it is polite to introduce yourself. Similarly, you can
introduce professionals you know who have not yet met when conversing with them in a
professional setting. Here are some ways you can use introduction etiquette to introduce
yourself or others to a professional or group:
Stand to greet the other person or group.
Say hello, state your name and ask for their name.
Introduce others with a statement like, "Please meet my colleague," followed by their name.
Offer information about yourself or the person you are introducing to create interest and start
a conversation.
Workplace etiquette
Workplace etiquette includes the professional rules and standards you adhere to daily in your
work environment. These include how you act in the workplace, communicate with
colleagues, managers and clients, consider others when performing your duties and present
yourself. Here are some ways to incorporate workplace etiquette into your routine:
Dress according to the company's dress code or standards.
Arrive on time for your shift and meetings.
Attempt to learn names as quickly as possible as a sign of respect.
Return calls and emails within 24 hours or follow up with a timeline.
Maintain a clean workspace that reflects the professional environment.
Act courteously when using shared spaces.
How To Improve Your Etiquette
Here are some steps you can take to improve your etiquette in the workplace:
1. Maintain professionalism
Remaining professional at all times in work environments is key to practising business
etiquette. Ensure your conversational tone suits the setting, which may be casual or formal.
Use appropriate gestures as you speak, and express interest in what others say. Show respect
for others, their ideas and their opinions by including them in conversations, listening to their
input and communicating politely and clearly.
2. Develop soft skills
Soft skills can benefit you in any role because they show others how you interact with your
colleagues, manage your work and organise your resources. These are essential to having
business etiquette, which focuses on your professionalism. Here are some soft skills that can
help you improve your etiquette:
Communication
Improving your verbal and written communication skills can make a positive impact on your
etiquette. When conversing with others, speak slowly and clearly so others can understand
you. Use non-technical terms when speaking with those outside of your industry. Listen
actively to others during conversations so they know you value their insight. When
corresponding with a colleague, manager or client through written communication, remember
to review the document for possible grammatical errors.
Emotional intelligence
This skill refers to the ability to understand the emotions of others. To develop emotional
intelligence skills, observe the actions and words of others to see how they react to different
situations. Watch for nonverbal communication actions, such as a smile or raised eyebrows to
determine how a person feels about an action or statement. You can use your observations to
help you relate to others and engage in meaningful conversations.
Time management
A significant element of etiquette is time management. Arriving on time shows others you
prioritise company rules and have consideration for colleagues, who may rely on you to
complete certain tasks. Time management also involves using your time in an organised
manner so you can stay on schedule. To help you manage your time, consider creating a
calendar that details your meeting information, project timelines and work schedule. You can
find calendar apps that send you notifications for each event.
3. Engage with peers
Business relationships are important to the success of professionals and the companies where
they work. Professionals often rely on personal feelings about their peers and colleagues,
such as how much they trust them, when deciding how closely to work with them. When you
are meeting with other professionals, consider engaging in respectful conversation with the
other person so you can get to know them. This may help you establish a good rapport with
them that can lead to a successful business relationship.
4. Ask for feedback
If you are unsure of how you present yourself to others, ask for constructive feedback from
your colleagues or manager. Gathering an outside perspective of your workplace etiquette can
help you realise actions you may not have noticed before. Try to incorporate their notes into
your daily routine to improve your etiquette. If they offer you positive feedback, you can use
these strengths to guide you in developing other exemplary habits.
Must-Follow Tips To Ensure Social Media Etiquette
1. Mention content credits
Social media is a content recycle bin.
What does it mean? Many people will see your content in a hurry as it spreads like digital
wildfire. Plagiarised content might harm your reputation.
It’s not difficult to share and distribute continual amazing content. All you have to do is to
mention the creator or source in your post.
Request permission to share (and earn courtesy points) or share it while making it clear it
isn’t yours. If you don’t, you’ll come across as unprofessional across others’ creativity.
2. Be succinct and concise
Being overly verbose may cause individuals to avoid your posts. To avoid this, keep your
post content short and sweet without going into too much detail.
3. Be Truthful
Be fully transparent and honest about yourself and your company. Whether you’re being
honest or not is usually obvious to your followers. Make your partnerships and any other
activity thing else you’re directly involved in/with known.
4. Make your visual content appealing
Content produces results only when it is combined with good visual design. Make sure you
create engaging, dynamic visual content that can be shared like wildfire. Don’t forget about
your profile photo, and prepare a distinctive cover shot for specific social media sites.
5. Be welcoming to all
If other people’s links are useful and relevant to your business, try to share them. This will
aid in the development of positive relationships with them. And enhance the likelihood of
your content being passed on in the future.
6. Go easy with Hashtags
Hashtags are a lot of fun. They aid in the search for the discovery of your brand.
#as #long #as #you #aren’t #on #a #board
They add to the noise and distraction, making you appear desperate.
To make hashtags more meaningful, use them intelligently.
Have a look at our Social Media Hashtag guide
7. Promote others too
You would appear uninteresting and lifeless if you send outposts after posts for the promotion
of your goods or service. By supporting the content and products/services of others where it
deserves appreciation, you will leave a positive impression on the audience.
Learn to strike a balance between your business marketing and that of sharing others’ content
to make a beneficial coexistence possible in the digital space.
8. Don’t copy digital content
Although digital content is not tangible, it is still owned by someone on the internet. Not only
is it unethical to use someone else’s content without mentioning credits, but also can face
legal implications under intellectual property laws This applies not only to posts and tweets
but also to content that has been recycled from other sources.
9. Stick to your brand persona
Be cautious when posting, or commenting on social media platforms such as Twitter,
Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and others. Everything you put out there on the Internet
reflects your image and that of your company. So, before you post something online, screen it
to make sure it’s free of any red flags.