ABSTRACT
Self-awareness is the most powerful and single most important quality that a facilitator can take into a team or group. Self-awareness not only helps to prevent people from falling into the traps, it allows them to be more authentic and to Own' more of what may be their less than flattering behaviours, attitudes and vulnerabilities. Paradoxically it is by owning what might be seen as their failings that they become more effective and accessible to others. Self-awareness also has a direct link with confidence and competence. People with low self-awareness will not recognize their own competence and will often claim that any success they achieve is down to luck or being in the right place at the right time. Self-awareness gives people the solid ground from which to take responsibility and appropriate action. The ways of building self-awareness are through reading, self-development exercises, learning groups and coaching and mentoring experiences.
