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Published: April 6, 2016, 9:16 p.m.

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self-perception bias

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Ever wonder why others can\\u2019t smell their own stink? (perfume or body order)\\xa0 We are good at judging others and finding out what is wrong with them, but that analysis does not seem to work on ourselves.\\xa0 The same is true for our skills.\\xa0 We have to have the ability to honestly access ourselves \\u2013 both our strengths and weaknesses.\\xa0 Then find the skills and the discipline to improve our faults.\\xa0 We always will feel we must gloss over our weaknesses to make things seem better than they actually are. We also lie to ourselves about our incomes, our debt, and our true weight.\\xa0 When you ask husbands and wives individually about what percent of the housework they each do \\u2013 the numbers never add up.\\xa0 Most people will rate their people skills as above average.\\xa0 We all know that is not true.\\xa0 If you want to see human blindness and bias in action, all you have to do is go to a sporting event as a neutral party and listen to the bias and comments of each opposing side.

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The Research

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To hit this point home we need to discover our own weaknesses and be honest with our own personal reality.\\xa0 Let\\u2019s take a look at some of the studies on self perception bias.\\xa0 To enhance your success and your influence, you need to know exactly what skills you have mastered and which ones you need work on.\\xa0 Isn\\u2019t it amazing how we tend to overestimate everything from grades and physical appearance to the possibility of divorce.\\xa0\\xa0 If you were in sales and you were asked to rate your ability to connect with people or your product knowledge, you would be 90 percent likely to rate yourself above average on these skills, even though mathematically the validity of your assertion should be around 50 percent.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 You know all those managers you have met over the years?\\xa0 Over 90 percent of them will rate themselves better than the average manager.\\xa0\\xa0 Did you know 80% of individuals may perceive themselves as being brighter, better drivers and more able entrepreneurs than their average peers.\\xa0\\xa0 One study even found that most people believe they are more ___________ than the average person.\\xa0\\xa0

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Athletic

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Intelligent

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Organized

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Ethical

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Logical

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Interesting

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Fair-minded

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\\u2022\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Attractive\\xa0

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The Solution

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It is all about true self-assessment.\\xa0 When I teach influence or self mastery seminars I ask my students to list the top ten reasons for their lack of success.\\xa0 They find plenty of reasons why it is not their fault for their inability to achieve their goals, but they rarely take ownership of their weaknesses or admit that it could be them.\\xa0 You can always ask yourself - What traits do I need to develop to take my life, my career and my income to the next level?\\xa0 My research of human nature shows that there are five critical areas that most people assess to have much higher skills than they actually have.\\xa0 When other people assess themselves of these skills, their scores are much lower.\\xa0 These are the five areas.

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1.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 People skills/empathy

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2.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Persistence/determination

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3.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Communication/listening

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4.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Personal mastery

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5.\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0\\xa0 Persuasion skills

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