How Self-Aware Are Your People? The Data Might Surprise You

We’ve done the research, and the results are somewhat telling. Genuine self-awareness in the workplace is rarer than we'd all like to think.

We analysed a comprehensive dataset of more than 78,000 individual Belbin profiles from over 30 different countries, we then set out to better understand how accurately people perceive their own behaviour at work.

The answer? Not as accurately as we might hope.

Belbin compares an individual’s Self-Perception inventory with detailed feedback from four or more workplace Observers, people who see their behaviour in action. From this, completed self and observer profiles are categorised along a spectrum: Coherent (strong alignment), Compatible (recognisable patterns), Discordant (clear differences), and Confused (little or no pattern).

What we found is striking. Only 17.7% of individuals achieved a Coherent profile, one that indicates a high level of self-awareness. The vast majority sit somewhere else on the spectrum, often with blind spots, mismatches, or unclear patterns in how they see themselves versus how others experience them.

This matters more than ever.  Such insights can offer people a genuine opportunity to pause and reflect upon how to become more self-aware and effective at work.

Self-awareness sits at the core of effective leadership, strong working relationships, and high-performing teams. It influences how we communicate, how we make decisions, and how we respond under pressure. Yet, despite its importance, genuinely high levels of self-awareness remain relatively rare.

The implication for organisations is clear: if we assume our people are self-aware, we’re likely building on shaky ground.

The good news? Self-awareness is not fixed, it can be developed. With the right data, feedback, and structured insight, individuals and teams can significantly improve how they understand themselves and each other.

So, a simple question: how self-aware are your people?

And perhaps more importantly, how do you know?

If you’d like to explore what this could look like in your team or organisation, we’d be happy to help.

CONTACT: Team@Belbin.com.au