As a stand-alone, the story of self-assessment sounds more like a crisis:
It is one of the most biased forms of assessment,
many of us are not equipped with the skills to do it well; and,
even with the right skills, most of us face the double burden of being unskilled (in the competencies being assessed) and unaware (of our own incompetence).
These obstacles suggest that self-assessments cannot be trusted, and yet, as if to make matters worse, it is gaining in popularity across industry and application.
The bad news, is that many of us are making big decisions using faulty data.
The good news, is that we can fix it.
Not only can self-assessment skills be learned, improving these skills comes with a number of corollary benefits to the organization and its people.
Improving self-assessment skills also strengthens self-monitoring, metacognition, and autonomy
Individuals who self-monitor and self-manage their behaviour are poised to lead their own development, and demonstrate more personal accountability
Increasing accuracy in self-assessment strengthens the relationship between coaches and coachees; team members and peers, creating a culture of transparency, continuous improvement, and collaboration
Here are seven things any organization can do to improve the accuracy, quality, and utility of self-assessment data.
**This post is part of a 3-part series discussing the utility, limitations, and potential of self-assessment as a valid tool for keeping a pulse on performance.