Self-confidence… It’s a hot topic these days. There are countless books, videos, and personal development courses available to help us build more confidence. A few months ago, as part of one of the organizations where I volunteer as a coach, I was asked to co-host a 2-hour workshop on this subject for individuals who had been unemployed long-term.
The participants had been out of the workforce for years and often faced challenges such as language difficulties, trouble concentrating, or issues with writing. The goal was to help them regain confidence in their abilities so they could feel more at ease during their job search and interviews.
To avoid putting participants in a difficult position, we eliminated writing entirely from the start. Instead, we worked with images and photos. To begin, we asked them to think of someone they considered a superhero. This could be someone famous or unknown, alive or deceased, real or imaginary. They then shared their superhero with the group, along with the qualities that made them heroic.
Our group of superheroes included mothers (their own or even Kylian Mbappé’s!), politicians, athletes, children, and people they had encountered in their personal or professional lives.
Next, we paired them up and asked each person to choose an image that represented a quality they saw in their partner. Once again, they were invited to share their thoughts.
The workshop fostered an incredibly warm and supportive atmosphere. Using images helped remove potential barriers related to language or expression difficulties in French. Participants opened up, and the compliments they gave each other were deeply moving. They left the session uplifted, with a solid boost in self-confidence—not only in themselves, but also in the group dynamic.
What better way to feel empowered than being compared to a superhero? Having someone recognize a quality in you—whether you’ve known them for an hour or for years—offers a fresh, positive perspective on yourself. This kind of workshop is also highly beneficial for teams, as sharing positive feedback between members strengthens relationships and can help ease tensions.
