Self management: What it is and how to improve your skills

What exactly is self-management?

The definition of self-management is all in the name: It's the ability to manage or maintain control of yourself. It’s knowing how to manage your emotions, tasks, behaviors, impulses, and even your time.

To a degree, everyone has some form of self-management if they can take care of their most basic needs. After all, those don't happen automatically and they require a certain degree of motivation and action.

To reach a high level of self-management means organizing more complex aspects of life using self-management techniques. It requires a range of skills paired with discipline and willpower to successfully meet major goals. People that seem to have it “all together” know their strengths and when to delegate or ask for help.  

Why is self-management important?

Let's dig a little deeper and spell out some other benefits of self-management:

• You'll excel at relationship management. You'll build stronger bonds with people because they trust you and know you're capable
• You'll be better equipped to use your problem-solving skills and coping skills to develop healthy relationships - at home or in the office
• You'll be able to find the inner motivation to conquer your personal goals. You'll also have an easier time getting through your daily tasks
• You'll experience increased productivity when you master time management. You'll have more energy and focus for your commitments and priorities.
• You'll behave in ways you feel proud of rather than giving into impulses or other challenging behavior. In leading by example, you become a healthy model for others around you

Does self-management matter in the workplace?

Self-management pays dividends in your personal life and in professional relationships too. It makes you a more trustworthy and reliable coworker. As a contributing member of your team, you'll be eligible for more responsibilities and opportunities for promotions. Company leaders will value these productive behaviors.

You can demonstrate self-management at work by being organized and timely with your tasks and responsibilities. This includes being respectful to others and knowing when you need to put in extra time to get a project done. Leadership will have a strong sense that you're capable of taking on other projects or even managing a team of your own.

If you're already a leader or manager, it's worth noting that the best employees can manage themselves. Yes, they still need guidance. Yet a high degree of self-management usually means they are more productive, quick to take initiative, and take accountability in their work. Building a team of self-managers can make a leader's life easier so they don't feel the need to micromanage. They can trust team members to achieve simple tasks and larger goals.

A self-managing team is important, too.

Despite the term "self" in the name, self-management isn't all about an individual; you can see it play out on a team too.

Teams with strong self-management skills are invaluable for the workplace. They run effectively with little oversight from upper management. This leads to a number of benefits for leaders and the entire organization. They’ll have faster turnaround time on projects with improved communication and collaboration. When a team has trust in one another and their leader, they create a positive attitude and create less stress for everyone involved.

Self-managing teams are usually made up of individuals that have a high degree of self-management. Managers can support this with team meetings that clearly outline responsibilities. As a team, they provide frequent updates to one another and hold each other accountable.

4 examples of self-management in your professional life and personal life

Wondering how self-management shows up in various areas of your life? Here are a few different ways you might see it play out:

1. Physical health

Maintaining good health is a likely indicator of someone who has strong self-management skills. For example, someone who schedules regular exercise and eight hours of sleep is self-managing their health and prioritizing positive behaviors.

2. Behavior and emotions

Maintaining control over your emotions and behavior is another way of exercising self-management. While it's perfectly natural to feel all types of emotions (negative and positive) it can be beneficial to manage how those show up in situations. For instance, if you've been having a tough day and someone cuts in front of you in the line for the bank, your first instinct may be anger. If you have good self-management skills, you'll be able to take a step back and address the situation with positive behaviors.

3. Stress levels

Stress management skills can help you develop better overall self-management. Stress can lead to feelings of overwhelm or anxiety. Proactively managing your stress, before it becomes an issue, allows you to focus on your goals.

Some people manage their stress through meditation and mindfulness. Others may find stress relief through exercise, hobbies, or time with loved ones.

Another essential aspect of managing stress is by saying no to commitments that may cause stress later, either because you overcommitted or because it's an activity that doesn't bring you joy. Be empowered to say no to things that don't fill you up and choose activities that are good for your mental health.

Following these steps will help you self-manage your stress levels and maintain a good headspace for things you enjoy.

4. Time management

Overseeing and allocating time is an essential part of self-management. If you consistently get your work done on time and don't sweat deadlines, you have a solid sense of time management.

A good time manager is often a good delegator. They know they may not have enough time to complete certain tasks and realize another person would be helpful for getting the job done. Learn when to say no to requests and when to ask for help. This will help you prioritize tasks, maintain your focus, and give you a greater sense of ownership over your time, and ultimately, your life.

A coaching plan: personal development and soft skills to improve self-management

Understanding yourself is vital to self-management. A greater understanding of your intrinsic motivation, as well as what is draining to you, can be the key to unlocking your greatest potential. Since we don't always have an unbiased view of ourselves, coaching and personal development can help.

With Fingerprint for Success, you can discover your talents with our highly accurate assessment. It's based on 20+ years of research, with more than 90% accuracy. By taking our free assessment we measure 48 motivations so you can thrive in your work and personal life.

Here's how to get started:

• Take the free assessment and gain instant access to your results. Your dashboard will show your top motivations — which are as unique as your fingerprint. You'll also see any blindspots, which can mean you have too much interest or not enough. These can be risk factors that may impact your success. By understanding more about yourself, you can improve your soft skills.

• Set a goal with AI Coach Marlee. Here you can hone in on what you want to achieve and how you want to grow. Then Marlee will suggest the perfect coaching plan. 90% of users achieve their goal by the end of their first coaching program.