Insight: Why We Are Less Self-Aware Than We Think—and What to Do About It

by Tasha Eurich

APPENDIX H Do You Have Unknown Unknowns? U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is famous for his statement about “known knowns,” “known unknowns” and “unknown unknowns.” When it comes to self-awareness, the “unknown unknowns” are what can hurt us most. It’s uncomfortable to consider the possibility that we don’t know ourselves as well as we think, but it’s absolutely essential. Read the statements below and circle the ones that apply to you. The more statements you’ve circled, the more you should be questioning your beliefs about yourself and getting feedback to calibrate those beliefs. Has your job or career made you feel unhappy or unfulfilled for a prolonged period of time? Have you ever been surprised that you didn’t get a promotion or a job you applied for? Have you ever failed at a task or project when you were sure that you’d succeed? Have you ever been surprised by the results of a performance evaluation or a 360 assessment? Have you ever been blindsided by negative feedback from a boss, peer, employee, or loved one? Has a work colleague or loved one ever been angry with you without your knowing why? Have any of your romantic or platonic relationships taken a sudden turn for the worse for reasons you didn’t completely understand? Have any of your romantic or platonic relationships ended unexpectedly? What Are Your Assumptions? One way to avoid the Three Blindspots is to identify your assumptions before you make critical decisions. Here are a few questions to he...