How can you use design to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills?

2 Collect feedback

The second step to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills is to collect feedback from various sources, such as your peers, mentors, clients, or friends. Feedback can help you identify your strengths and weaknesses, as well as areas for improvement or development. However, feedback can also be biased, incomplete, or inaccurate, so you need to design a system to filter, analyze, and synthesize the information you receive. For example, you can use a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) to evaluate your feedback and identify key insights.

3 Reflect on your experiences

The third step to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills is to reflect on your experiences regularly and systematically. Reflection can help you learn from your successes and failures, as well as your emotions and reactions. However, reflection can also be difficult, especially if you are not used to it or if you have negative or conflicting feelings. Therefore, you need to design a method to facilitate your reflection process, such as using a journal, a template, or a framework. For example, you can use the STAR method (situation, task, action, and result) to describe and evaluate your experiences.

4 Experiment with new approaches

The fourth step to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills is to experiment with new approaches and strategies, based on your goals, feedback, and reflection. Experimentation can help you test your assumptions, challenge your beliefs, and discover new possibilities. However, experimentation can also be risky, uncertain, or uncomfortable, so you need to design a plan to manage your expectations, risks, and outcomes. For example, you can use the SMART criteria (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) to set and monitor your experiments.

5 Share your insights

The fifth step to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills is to share your insights and learnings with others, such as your colleagues, mentors, or community. Sharing can help you communicate your value, gain recognition, and build trust. However, sharing can also be intimidating, exposing, or misunderstood, so you need to design a way to convey your message clearly, effectively, and authentically. For example, you can use the AIDA model (attention, interest, desire, and action) to structure and deliver your presentation.

6 Review and revise

The sixth and final step to improve your self-awareness and reflection skills is to review and revise your goals, feedback, reflection, experimentation, and sharing, periodically and iteratively. Review and revision can help you evaluate your performance, celebrate your achievements, and identify your gaps or opportunities. However, review and revision can also be tedious, overwhelming, or discouraging, so you need to design a routine to keep yourself motivated, focused, and flexible. For example, you can use the PDCA cycle (plan, do, check, and act) to implement and improve your actions.