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

by Tasha Eurich

APPENDIX G What Is Your Impact on Others? As we’ve seen throughout the book, it’s easy to lose sight of the effect that our behavior has on others—the seventh pillar—yet examining people’s reactions and responses to us is a critical part of becoming more self-aware. Here are some initial questions to help you start to reflect on the impact you might be having on others: In your life and work, who are the people in whom you have a vested interest (employees, spouse, kids, customers, etc.)? For each of these people or groups, what is the impression that you would like to create? Think about your behavior in the last week with each person or group. If you were a neutral party observing that behavior, would you see it as having the impact you’re aiming for? In the last week, what reactions have you observed from each person or group? Think back to your interactions and try to recall not just how they responded to you verbally, but also their facial expressions, body language, and tone. Do these match up with your intentions? If not, what changes could you make? If you see an opportunity to change your approach in ways that would help you to achieve the impact you desire, what could you experiment with starting tomorrow, and how will you assess your impact?