Master the basics of self-management and take yourself and your team to the next level. Whether you are a manager in a large international company or a leader in a small start-up, self-management can help you work more efficiently and improve the performance of others.
What is self-management? This term can be explaides as self-leadership, personal management, or managing oneself. It is a process composed of several activities that help people set goals and values, and find ways to achieve them.
3 basic steps of self-management
If you want to develop your managerial skills and personal growth, we recommend going through these three fundamental steps of self-management:
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Application
- Self-Development
Step 1: Self-Awareness
In this step, you should get to know yourself and build a positive relationship with yourself. You can use questions such as: Who am I? What do I want from life? What are my strengths? How do I learn and work? What kind of people do I belong with? Be honest and realistic, don’t be too harsh or overly lenient. Acknowledge your achievements and also recognize your weaknesses.
Step 2: Self-Application
Focus on organization, planning, and control. Be thorough. Observe yourself and evaluate whether your current system works for you, identify gaps, and see where you can improve.
Set realistic, measurable, and time-bound goals from the start. They will be easier to evaluate and seem more achievable for example, “I will regularly write articles” vs. “I will write 1 article per month.” Prioritize tasks based on importance and time required. Also, plan for follow-up evaluation: “Did I complete today’s plan? What can I change or do differently to accomplish it tomorrow?”
Step 3: Self-Development
This step is crucial in all fields. If you don’t know where to start, first focus on what you enjoy or what could theoretically interest you and what will help you achieve your goals. You can use training, seminars, webinars, books, lectures, podcasts, MBA studies, and many other forms of learning. Don’t be ashamed if you don’t know something nobody is born learned. Be proud of yourself for trying to improve. As a manager, you could focus on areas such as time management, concentration, self-control, assertiveness, focus, communication skills, motivation, and other soft skills.
You can start self-management right now. Grab a pen and paper and reflect: Who are we? What is our goal? How can we achieve it most effectively? Self-management works with a positive mindset. Right from the beginning, dismiss thoughts like “I can’t do this” or “I’m too young/old for this.” Let go of fear and worry, avoid stereotypes, and keep an open mind for new ideas, perspectives, and approaches.
