The Self-Awareness Gift For Your Employees: Know Yourself Workshops

​Self-awareness is one of the most valuable skills anyone can develop at work. When people understand their own behavioural preferences and how they’re perceived by others, they communicate more clearly, collaborate more effectively, and work through challenges with far less friction. The same applies to understanding colleagues, when teams recognise and appreciate different communication and working styles, relationships strengthen, and performance naturally improves.

For organisations, this creates a more positive, productive culture where people feel understood, respected and able to contribute at their best. That’s why building self-awareness isn’t just a development exercise; it’s a practical way to improve teamwork, reduce misunderstandings and support a healthier workplace. One effective way to build this capability is through a Know Yourself Workshop. These sessions give teams the chance to explore their own behaviours, learn how others prefer to work, and understand how small adjustments in communication can make a big difference day-to-day.

This article will explore the value of self-awareness in the workplace, the benefits of running a knowing yourself workshop, and what you can expect from these transformative programmes.

Why Self-Awareness Is Crucial In The Workplace

In a workplace setting, self-awareness is about understanding your behavioural and communication preferences, and recognising how they influence the way you work with others. When people have this level of insight, they are better able to:

• Adapt their communication
• Recognise how their behaviour might be perceived
• Stay mindful of how they respond in different situations
• Collaborate more naturally with colleagues who work differently

For example, someone who knows they have a naturally direct style may choose to slow down and offer more context when working with a colleague who prefers detail and reflection. Likewise, someone who tends to take a measured, steady approach may prepare more concise summaries when collaborating with a fast-paced team member. These small shifts help reduce misunderstandings, prevent unnecessary tension, and create a more respectful and cohesive team environment.

How Your Team Benefits From A Know Yourself Workshop

A Know Yourself Workshop gives employees the space, structure and support to understand their own behaviours, reflect on how they come across to others, and explore the diverse preferences within their team.

These workshops offer clear benefits:

• Stronger team dynamics: Understanding behavioural preferences helps teams appreciate differences instead of misinterpreting them. This builds empathy and improves collaboration.
• A shared language for communication: Tools such as DISC provide a simple, practical way to describe behaviours and working styles.
• Increased self-awareness and confidence: Participants reflect on how their behaviour is perceived and consider development areas that support stronger working relationships.
• Fairer, more objective decision-making: When people understand both their own tendencies and potential blind spots, they’re better able to work through challenges constructively.
• Improved motivation and engagement: When employees understand what helps them thrive and how others operate, day-to-day collaboration becomes easier and more rewarding.

What Is The Structure Of A Know Yourself Workshop?

A well-designed know yourself workshop should be an interactive and engaging experience rather than simply a presentation. While programmes can be tailored, a typical session includes four key elements:

1. Psychometric tools and assessments: Participants complete a psychometric assessment (such as DISC) beforehand. The purpose isn’t to label people or measure personality; instead, it provides a clear starting point for understanding behavioural and communication preferences. Psychometric tools are not 100% accurate, and they don’t predict performance or measure work ethic. They simply offer a structured way to reflect on how individuals tend to approach situations.
2. Interactive activities and group discussion: Facilitated exercises help participants explore their own results, understand their colleagues' preferences and connect these insights to real workplace situations.
3. Self-reflection and action planning: A crucial part of the process is guided self-reflection. Participants are given time to think about how their newfound insights apply to their specific role and relationships at work. The workshop aims to move beyond theory and into practical application. This often involves creating a simple action plan to implement one or two changes in their behaviour or communication approach.
4. Post-workshop support: The learning doesn't stop when the workshop ends. To ensure the insights stick, post-workshop resources are provided. These might include summary guides, access to further reading, or follow-up coaching sessions. This reinforcement is key to helping employees embed their new understanding into their daily work routines.

The Outcomes: A More Positive And Productive Culture

A Know Yourself Workshop aims to create a noticeable, practical shift in how teams communicate and work together. With greater self-awareness comes:

• Clearer communication
• Improved listening
• Greater resilience during change
• Faster, more collaborative problem-solving

When people understand themselves and each other, they work together more effectively, not by accident, but by design.

What Next?

At Penguin Learning, we specialise in designing and delivering DISC workshops that unlock the potential within your teams. If you are ready to give your employees the gift of self-awareness and build a more collaborative workplace, please contact us to find out how our tailored workshops can help.

​Image source: Canva