What Happens at a Self-Esteem Workshop?

A self-esteem workshop, or seminar, may begin with a demonstration in how to introduce oneself. When people are asked to introduce themselves to a group of strangers, typically, after stating their name and some basic information, they will mention things about themselves such as their career position or where they earned a degree or about where they live. Self-esteem workshops focus on helping people learn to appreciate inner rather than outer qualities. Guest speakers may go further into this concept and participants may also be brought into group discussions about the importance of being worthy just by simply being. During a self-esteem workshop, participants may be given some self-assessment quizzes that they may be asked to share so they can learn communication skills as well as likely increase their confidence level before the seminar ends.

A popular type of self-test at a self-esteem seminar contains a list of personal attributes such as "capable," "humorous," "determined" and "creative." Each participant in the self-esteem workshop then circles or checks those inner qualities that he or she feels describes himself or herself. The workshop instructor may ask people to introduce themselves by describing these attributes such as "Hi, I'm Tom. I'm thoughtful, determined, creative and hardworking." This type of sharing exercise may be uncomfortable for people at first and cause some nervous giggles, but it demonstrates that inner qualities rather than outer ones such as looks or status in life are what really matter.

Since people aren't naturally used to describing themselves in this way, the group moderator or instructor will be paying attention to help guide participants. For instance, if a self-esteem workshop participant says something like "My name is Sue. I try to be kind...," the group instructor or moderator will ask the individual to leave out qualifiers such as "try to be." All of the exercises, speeches and guidance at self-esteem workshops are designed to keep emphasizing the point that simply being alive makes a person worthy. They demonstrate and teach participants to identify and value who they are by recognizing their own inner qualities.

Sharing what their inner characteristics are with others in the group further emphasizes their importance in getting to understand oneself as well as in getting to know other people. In a self-esteem workshop, pamphlets or handouts are typically offered to participants to take with them. These materials may include further information about self-esteem theories and the importance of worth through who we are, not what we have, change or achieve.