The Power of Self-Awareness in Coaching and Mentorship
Hi, everybody.
One of the most fundamental tenets of effective coaching — and I would also extend this to training, mentoring, giving advice, and strategic planning — is the need for high self-awareness.
At its core, self-awareness is what allows growth to happen. In fact, for the past 32 years, we’ve defined coaching as a simple but powerful two-step process:
Get someone to look in the mirror.
Get them to take action based on what they see.
It sounds straightforward, but the reality is that very few people will voluntarily complete the first step on their own. That’s where the role of a coach, mentor, or trainer becomes critical.
To help foster this essential awareness, we always introduce what we call the Self-Aware Three — a set of three simple but powerful questions we ask people after any kind of feedback session, training, or mentoring conversation.
These questions are designed to drive internal reflection, ownership, and ultimately, transformation.
The Influence of Tasha Eurich’s Research
Many of you know I frequently cite Insights, the bestselling book by organizational psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich. It's a phenomenal resource, filled with real-world application and backed by strong research.
Dr. Eurich emphasizes the profound value of self-awareness and notes that while most people think they’re self-aware, the reality is that only a small percentage actually are. Her research underscores just how crucial — and rare — true self-awareness is in both personal and professional development.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're coaching, training, mentoring, or simply offering guidance, helping others look inward is the first — and often most difficult — step. Once people begin to honestly assess where they are, then, and only then, can they begin to grow.
Let’s make a commitment: help people look in the mirror, and then walk with them as they take meaningful action based on what they see.
