Hi Everyone,
In BNI our VCP (Visibility, Credibility, Profitability) can be affected by our behaviour.
For example, we might be technically proficient but lack in business, personal or soft skills that we haven’t developed yet. Examples directly relevant to BNI would be turning up late, communicating poorly or dressing inappropriately for a business meeting.
So, if one of our members is just out of odds with our chapter culture, whose role is it to help bring them into line?
As entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and business owners we don’t have anyone who has express permission to sit us down and say to us, “Sometimes when you act like that, it really causes problems for you”. Some of us may be lucky enough to have life partners or coaches who tell us like it is and we may choose to listen to them,
but the key is to be “self-aware” and responsible for ourselves.

What is Self-Awareness?
Self-awareness is the ability to focus on yourself and how your actions, thoughts, or emotions do or don’t align with your internal standards.
If you’re highly self-aware, you can objectively evaluate yourself, manage your emotions, align your behavior with your values, and understand correctly how others perceive you

Self-awareness is crucial for effective leadership, impacting confidence, creativity, decision-making, relationship building, communication, ethical behavior, career progression, and overall leadership effectiveness.
Despite its significance, true self-awareness is rare, with only 10%-15% of individuals meeting the criteria.
Thinking we have self-awareness might be like thinking everyone else is a bad driver…. but the statistics say different.

In BNI as entrepreneurs, solopreneurs and business owners we can have behaviors and lifelong habits we have developed that can harm or Visibility, Credibility and Profitability (VCP). It can be hard for others to let us know about these characteristics. We need to have self-awareness and seek constructive feedback.
An example is having the habit of being late and not being aware of the impact it has on your credibility.

The Two Types of Self-Awareness
Internal Self-Awareness: Understanding one’s values, passions, strengths, weaknesses, and impact. Linked to higher satisfaction, control, and happiness.
External Self-Awareness: Understanding how others perceive oneself. Correlated with empathy, better relationships, and overall effectiveness.

Tips for Becoming More Self-Aware

1. Keep an open mind,
2. Be mindful of your strengths and weaknesses,
3. Stay focused,
4. Set boundaries,
5. Know your emotional triggers,
6. Embrace your intuition,
7. Practice self-discipline,
8. Consider how your actions affect others.