What does Birkman mean by Self-Consciousness (formerly Esteem)?

Your use of sensitivity when communicating with others

How a person may deal with (or prefer to deal with)
approval-related topics, and how a person relates to other individuals.

Self-Consciousness (formerly called Esteem) is the relationship you have with others on a one-to-one basis. When communicating, will you focus on the issue the other person is addressing, or on the person to whom you are speaking?

Self-Consciousness measures a sensitivity-based about correcting others or being corrected by others and concerns about embarrassing others or being embarrassed.

• High scores reflect diplomatic, sensitive behavior, a preference for personal, supportive relationships and a tendency to appear overly sensitive when others are perceived to be too direct.

• Low scores reflect candid, direct behavior, a preference for candid and direct relationships and blunt behavior when stressed by the indirectness or perceived overly-sensitive behavior of others.