Self-knowledge is the basis for defining goals. We can often aim for something that does not match our nature. We can try to develop various skills, but those that are in our own nature will be developed inherently.
We must be aware of our skills and what their pros and cons are, especially when defining professional goals. A great example of this is in the technology sector, where we have two opposing elements: the introverted profile, which dedicates itself to more technical activities that require concentration, and the more extroverted profile, which focuses mainly on communication and relationships.
In the organizational environment, it is extremely important for the leader to understand the profile of each member of their team, and thus be able to provide feedback that is coherent and contributes to the development and greater delivery of results. Therefore, it is important to demand what would actually be capable of being delivered and not what would never make sense to that individual. A good example is wanting a fish to live out of water and climb a tree.
“Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing itself to be stupid.” Attributed to Einstein.
Self-knowledge can be obtained in several ways, one of the most popular is through personality tests such as https://www.16personalities.com or reading books such as Human Dynamics: A New Framework for Understanding People & Realizing the Potential in Our Organizations .
We can often aim for something that at the moment of achieving it we will not be happy or comfortable in our day-to-day life, thus generating disappointment or stress. Ideally, we should define our goals well, knowing exactly what it will represent or require of us, for example, in relation to a position at work, what are its main activities and what personality traits and habits will be required? Will I be happy being there or am I at a point where I am already satisfied with what I do and the next step would be to improve what I am already naturally good at?