Self Esteem

LESSON 1.2

Self-confidence is something that helps you succeed at work, especially when working with a team. It can make it easier to share your ideas, explain why they matter, and speak up respectfully when offering suggestions. Building this kind of confidence takes time, but it’s a valuable skill that helps you grow and become a strong part of any team.

Sometimes, you’ll need to suggest a new solution or explain why an idea might not work. Other times, your own ideas might be questioned or turned down. That’s a normal part of teamwork. Self-confidence helps you stay calm, listen to others, and keep contributing in a positive way.

Good teamwork isn’t about always being right. It’s about knowing when to speak up, when to listen, and how to work through problems together. Self-confidence helps you do all of that with respect and professionalism.

Self-confidence means trusting your own abilities while staying open to learning and growth.

What it is: Self-confidence means trusting your abilities, judgment, and effort. For this lesson, it’s about believing you will do your best—whatever that looks like for you.

Doing your best might mean asking for help, researching a topic, or learning through mistakes. Growth often happens step by step, and that’s okay.

Self-compassion—being fair and kind to yourself—works hand in hand with self-confidence to build healthy self-esteem.

Why it’s important: Some people focus only on their own needs and may not be used to showing empathy, understanding, or encouragement.

But in the workplace—and in life—you’ll work with others. Success isn’t just about finishing a task; it’s about doing your best to be a contributing member of the team.

Employers value people who have the confidence to take on tasks, ask for help, collaborate, communicate, learn from mistakes, and keep working toward a shared goal.

Primer Questions

1) Do you feel comfortable working with others to accomplish a task? Why or why not?

2)Do you acknowledge your effort when you try something, even if it doesn’t work out the way you hoped?

What are some ways you’ve found helpful in building your self-esteem? Take your time and think about what works for you, without pressure or comparison to others.

Write down your answers and observations in your journal, or discuss with the group.

Take a moment to check in with yourself.

Do you see each challenge or setback as a chance to learn and grow? What can you learn from it, and how can it help you do things differently next time?

Think of one experience that didn’t go as planned but taught you something valuable.

Praise effort, not just results.

When you were younger, you were praised for trying, like when you drew a picture and got compliments no matter how it looked.

As you got older, praise shifted to only focusing on what you accomplish. For instance, people might only notice when you succeed, but don’t recognize the effort you put in, like when you’re working find a job but don’t get credit for the effort you’re making.

KEY: Focus on doing your best and give 100% effort in everything. Appreciate that you gave it your all, no matter how it turns out.

Take pride in your effort. If you keep this up, the results will follow.

Questions for self-awareness:

Did you notice anything about your self-esteem from answering the survey?
Who or what has the biggest impact on how you feel about yourself?
Are you kind and realistic with your expectations of yourself?
Do you understand why your self-esteem is where it is right now, whether it feels high or low?
Write down your answers and observations in your journal, or discuss them with others.

THE RESEARCH AND CONNECTION:

Self-Esteem & Self-Confidence

One study, Self-Esteem, Incarceration, and Recidivism, looked at how self-esteem affects the chances of someone returning to prison. It found that the way people feel about themselves before leaving prison could be a strong indicator of whether they might return. The researchers used a formula to predict this, and they found that people with higher self-esteem and confidence were less likely to re-offend. This suggests that focusing on building self-esteem could be an important part of making lasting changes and staying out of prison.

Another study found that self-confidence is key to a successful reentry. Returning citizens face many challenges, like finding stable housing, employment, and taking care of their health. Rebuilding relationships with family and friends can be tough, especially with stigma and discrimination, and legal barriers can make things even harder. However, when someone believes in their ability to overcome these challenges, they are more likely to stay focused, push through setbacks, and create a strong foundation for a fresh start.

Metacognitive Assignment

For the first part of the lesson, reflect on whether and how your self-esteem changed. For the rest of the week, pay attention to how compassionate you are with yourself.

This means noticing if your expectations of yourself feel reasonable. If they don’t, try to explore what’s behind those feelings, without judgment.

Be kind and honest with yourself. While it’s easy to compare your expectations to those of others, try to focus on what feels reasonable for you, given your own experiences and journey. Remember, everyone’s path is different, and what works for someone else may not be the best for you.

Write down your reflections in your journal. Are you being kind and realistic with yourself? Are you practicing self-compassion? Remember, treating yourself with understanding and setting reasonable expectations is one of the best ways to build healthy, balanced self-esteem.