Self-management: the Definition, Skills and Tips

Article by: Lars Weijers

Last update: January 10, 2025

Self-management: this article explains the concept of self-management. First, the definition is described. Then several examples are given, the 10 skills of self-management are named and practical tips to promote it are shared. After reading, you will understand the basics of the term and be able to start applying the theory in your own life. Have fun reading!

What is self-management?

Self-management refers to people’s ability to organize their own lives effectively, without constant guidance or supervision from others. It includes taking responsibility for one’s own goals, choices and outcomes. Depending on the context in which self-management is discussed, the term takes on a slightly different meaning. Although the context may vary, the basic principles remain the same: ownership, discipline and self-reflection.

Self-management includes valuable skills that people can employ in both their personal and professional lives. It enables them to proactively take responsibility for their own time and actions.

For example, today’s demands for flexibility and self-discipline are increasing. Self-management can help prioritize and achieve a healthy work-life balance. Moreover, it contributes to personal resilience, which is crucial at a time when high expectations and continuous (online) presence can create stress. It enables people to make decisions about their own lives with confidence and focus.

Self-management meaning and definition

The term self-management is best known within health care contexts. Within a healthcare context, self-management revolves around the independent management of chronic conditions and their social consequences in the face of long-term illness.

In a professional context, it means that employees are able to manage their time and tasks efficiently, proactively solve problems and make decisions that align with organizational goals.

When self-management is considered in the context of personal development, it is often mentioned in the same breath as time management. Personal self-management is about effectively organizing time and resources to independently achieve your goals. This article shares information for using it for personal and professional development. Self-management within healthcare is further disregarded.

Examples of self-management

Self-management refers to the ability to set goals independently, work consistently toward those goals and reflect on the outcome. Exactly what those goals are depends on the context a person is in. To give a clear picture of what self-management is, examples of self-management in both professional and personal settings are shared.

Professional environment

In the context of a work environment, the goals being worked on are the business objectives. For example, meeting a certain target or completing a project on time for a client.

Some examples of self-management at work include:

Improve time management: an employee sets daily priorities and uses a calendar, to-do list or project management tools to monitor deadlines.
Employ problem-solving skills: an employee identifies a bottleneck within a project, comes up with a solution and proactively discusses it with stakeholders.
Improve stress management: an employee spends 10 minutes every day doing mindfulness or breathing exercises to better handle stressful situations.

Personal development

Unlike self-management in a professional setting, these goals need not be work-related. Some examples for personal development include:

Improve physical health: someone builds the habit of exercising more outdoors by, for example, going for a 30-minute walk every day.
Increase personal knowledge: someone wants to take an (online) course on a subject that interests them, for example philosophy, a foreign language or a creative hobby.
Promote emotional balance: someone keeps a daily gratitude journal to focus more on positive experiences and thus improve mental well-being.

The 10 self-management skills

There are many different skills related to to this subject. You probably already master some skills well, while you may be able to develop further in others. Here are the 10 most important self-management skills you need to achieve your own goals:

Time management: the ability to plan and use your time effectively to prioritize, meet deadlines and minimize distractions.
Self-discipline: the strength to consistently keep working toward goals and be able to motivate yourself when needed.
Self-reflection: regularly evaluate your own behavior, performance and choices to identify areas for improvement and take targeted action.
Emotion regulation: effectively managing emotions, such as stress or frustration, to make rational decisions.
Ambition: setting clear, attainable goals and developing a plan to achieve them.
Problem-solving ability: the ability to identify problems and proactively seek an appropriate solution.
Adaptability: the ability to deal with change and adapt to a new situation.
Self-motivation: the ability to motivate yourself to keep going, without external pressure or encouragement.
Stress management: developing strategies to recognize, manage and reduce stress.
Personal leadership: taking responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

Tips to promote self-management

Promote it for individuals

Tip 1: Set clear goals. Use techniques such as SMART goals to set focus and direction. For example, “I want to exercise outside for 30 minutes every day for the next three months.”
Tip 2: Engage in self-reflection. Schedule a periodic time to reflect on your goals, such as every month or every quarter. For example, use the STARR method or the Korthagen reflection model to do this.
Tip 3: Learn to say “no”. Although sometimes difficult, it can be valuable for your own development to sometimes refuse or delegate tasks. When in doubt about whether to do something, ask yourself the question, “Does this action contribute to my personal goals?” If the answer is “no,” do not perform the task (yourself).

Promoting it for leaders and organizations

Tip 1: Create a culture of trust. Give employees the responsibility to manage their own time and work. Micromanagement discourages self-management, while trust promotes ownership.
Tip 2: Increase work happiness. Actively ask employees about their job happiness, such as during a performance review. Be open to feedback and try to get and keep everyone’s job happiness as high as possible. For example, by offering flexible working hours or increasing the possibility of working from home.
Tip 3: Offer training and tools. Organize an (online) training or workshop on the various skills. In addition, offer the right tools to apply skills such as time management and self-reflection.

It’s Your Turn

What do you think? Do you now know enough about self-management? Or do you still have questions or need more information to take it further? What insights have you gained or what tips about this subject would you like to share?

Share your knowledge and experience via the comment box at the bottom of this article. Want to learn more about personal development? Then also read our articles on time management and work happiness.

More information

Kanfer, F. H., & Gaelick-Buys, L. (1991). Self-management methods.
Munro, I. (2024) Self-management skills: a guide to thriving in the workplace. BetterUp: https://www.betterup.com/blog/what-is-self-management-and-how-can-you-improve-it.
Raeburn, A. (2024). What is self-management? (7 skills to improve it).
Sajeevanie, T. L. (2020). Importance of self-management and future research thoughts: A critical review perspective.
Yates, B. T. (1985). Self-management. The science and art of helping yourself. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publ. Co.

How to cite this article:
Weijers, L. (2025). Self-management. Retrieved [insert date] from Toolshero: https://www.toolshero.com/leadership/action-centered-leadership-acl/

Original publication date: 01/10/2025 | Last update: 01/10/2025

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Article by:

Lars Weijers

Lars Weijers is an experienced copywriter with an extensive marketing communications background. His specialisms lie in creative and active writing, combined with good search engine findability. Lars also works as an event and account manager with a commercial focus.