A test for self-awareness

How would you feel if someone showed you a radiograph and then asked you to give a public radiology report in front of a room of your colleagues? If your answer is queasy, you're not alone. During her session “Self-awareness: The key to being well,” at Fetch dvm360 conference in Virginia Beach, Betsy Charles, DVM, MA, used this experience to help veterinarians, veterinary technicians and practice managers reflect on their feelings. Portia Stewart, dvm360 team channel director, reports in this video:

Some attendees pointed to their experiences in veterinary school for their reluctance to speak in front of their peers. One attendee said her self-doubt sprang from constantly being told she wasn't good enough in vet school.  

Dr. Charles said this reaction was not an uncommon response for veterinarians, and she said it was important for the veterinary technicians and practice managers in the room to recognize that their veterinarians may experience feelings of self-doubt or even impostor syndrome.  

In another useful self-test, Dr. Charles asked attendees to break into groups and debate this issue:  

“If your little league team made the World Series and you could only take 14 of your 17 players, who would you take?”  

The eight groups in the room debated the criteria they could use, which ranged from drawing straws to taking the team members with the best stats. Dr. Charles said this demonstrated two types of decision-makers: Those who think with their heads and those who think with their hearts.  

Why is self-awareness so important? Simply put, it's a key component of emotional intelligence-the ability to perceive and adapt your behavior. And practicing emotional intelligence puts you on the path to becoming a better leader.