Metacognition?
What is metacognition and what’s in it for me?
Available to everyone.
By looking at thinking patterns, we can access new data about ourselves which unlocks new ways to deal with what life offers.
Have you ever thought about how your thinking affects your day at work or your overall happiness? This isn't just about being smart - it's about being aware of your own thought processes, or what’s called metacognition. As it turns out, being in tune with how you think can boost your overall mental health and fitness, job performance and make you feel better both at work and in your private life. We all have access to our metacognitive skills, but we might need a push or a reminder that it’s there.
“Being in tune with how you think can boost your overall mental health and fitness.”
So let me give you an example.
Kai, working as a teacher, gets an assignment to speak publicly at the school’s yearly book festival. Kai is terrified of public speaking and suddenly feels nauseous just by thinking about it. She can see images in her hear of what it looks like when she “makes a fool of herself”.
As it turns out, after a few sessions of effective coaching, Kai connects to her metacognitive skills and starts to ask herself questions where this fear comes from. Has she always failed terribly? Hardly. Does she normally come prepared? Yes. She understands that it’s actually her own repeating thoughts triggering this anxiety.
This awareness makes her think of other thought patterns she will try, and how she can prepare and calm herself down before exposing herself to this event. She works with journaling her experiences to find out what goes on inside her, and sets up a good routine to prepare before speaking.
The outcome? Kai is now much more at ease and has repeated assignments of speaking! She is also using this strategy when faced with other situations in her life.
Another example.
Mio is struggling at work. His team members seem not to engage as much in the team goals and it’s making Mio feel frustrated most of the time. This frustration shows itself in Mio being angry a lot of his working hours and it’s not unusual that Mio finds himself excluded socially from the group. None of the others wants to handle his temper and it’s beginning to be a big problem.
Sitting with his coach Mio realizes that is old thinking patterns that put him in his state of mind. He is simply used to reacting to frustration with anger. He has done this most of his life, and he realizes he is copying strategies from one of his parents. Discovering how these thinking patterns show up, and what triggers them he is now capable of exploring other thought patterns and thereby reactions and behaviours. His team responds to this change immediately, and group dynamic is shifting.
“Metacognition isn’t just a fancy concept, it’s about real skills that impact everyday life.”
Diving deeper into benefits of understanding metacognition
Metacognition isn’t just a fancy concept, it’s about real skills that impact everyday life. For instance, understanding and managing your thoughts, seeing from a different angle what goes on in your life, and knowing when and how to adjust your approach, can make a world of difference in how you handle life.
Sometimes we need just a moment or two when faced with emotional triggers to stop old thinking patterns and try new ones. But it takes practice. And finding a “thinking buddy“ can be a good idea. Someone who is also working on changing thoughts and behaviours to change outcome and results in their life.
Wellbeing and the power of thinking about thinking
It’s not all about work performance - metacognition has a profound impact on personal wellbeing too. People who engage in metacognitive practices like mindfulness or reflective thinking often find they can manage stress better and feel more satisfied with their jobs. So, how can we leverage these skills? Here are a couple of tips:
- Look for instruction tutorials online: There are online workshops and podcasts that offer training in metacognitive skills. These aren’t just about learning a new software or a manual skill - it’s about learning how to learn and how to think effectively.
- Mindfulness and reflection: Engaging in mindfulness exercises can help build your metacognitive abilities. Simple practices like meditative thinking or journaling can make a big difference in how you view and handle challenges and stress.
- Find a coach who can help you discover your thinking patterns and work from there. Finding these patterns makes it possible to try new perspectives and these new ways of thinking may unlock many alternative behaviours you didn’t know you had.
Conclusion
In essence, metacognition is about understanding and improving how you think, learn, and respond to challenges. By developing these skills, not only can you enhance your job performance, but you can also experience greater wellbeing. So next time you're faced with a tough day at work, remember, thinking about your thinking could be the key to turning it around!
