Assertiveness Skills

About the Course

Designed for
Aimed at trainees who which to recognise when they are being abused or manoeuvred for someone else’s benefit, and how to resist such treatment effectively without becoming angry and aggressive. Aimed also at trainees that wish to learn how to persuade people to do as they wish without having to become a bully.

Aims

  • To provide students with the knowledge of assertiveness, the types of assertion and to assist them in the differentiation between assertion, non-assertion and aggression.
  • To empower students with the confidence and knowledge of when to use their assertiveness skills, what types to use and what behaviours should be used to enhance those skills to achieve maximum assertiveness.

Objectives
To effectively help attendees:

  • Deal with their own feelings
  • Set boundaries for others
  • Present clear messages
  • Gain increased confidence
  • Close conversations
  • Manage conflict
  • Practise The Art of Saying No
  • Move awkward situations forward
  • Handle difficult people & situations

Teaching Approach
The teaching approach contains a mix of lectures, workshops, role-plays, practical and one-to-one work and
varies according to the people attending.

Pre-requirements
None.

Duration: This training program is two days in duration.

Course Outline

  • What is Assertiveness?
  • How Assertive are you?
  • the differences between Assertion, Non-assertion and Aggression.
    The effects of non-assertion on the individual and on others
    The effects of aggression on the individual and on others
  • Recognizing Assertive, Non-assertive and Aggressive behaviour
  • The benefits of Assertiveness to the individual
  • The benefits of Assertiveness to the Organisation
  • Six types of Assertion & when they should be used
    Basic
    Empathetic
    Discrepancy
    Negative Feelings
    Consequence
    Responsive
  • Rights and Assertiveness
    Why rights are important to Assertiveness
    The individuals general rights in Assertiveness
    The rights between you and the people that you work with
    Lack of clarity on rights
    Other people’s rights
  • Making Requests and Refusing requests
    Disagreeing and stating your views
  • Getting your message across: dealing with criticism
    What is meant by criticism?
    An Assertive approach to Criticism
    Giving Criticism
    Receiving Criticism
    Steps on solving your interpersonal conflicts
    How to say “no” with confidence and without feeling guilty
  • Assertiveness behaviours and techniques
    The 3 steps to Assertiveness
    Body Language
    The Broken Record Technique
    Fogging
    Negative Feelings Assertion
    Discrepancy Assertion
    Saying No
    Inner Dialogues
  • Workable Compromise
  • Identifying and analysing your own behaviour
  • Developing the individual’s assertiveness techniques
  • How Others influence you
    The Two Elements of Influence
    How aggression from others influences you
    Responding aggressively to aggression from others
    Responding assertively to aggression from others
  • Handling Non-assertion from others
    Responding assertively to non-assertion
  • Resolving Conflict
    Guidelines for resolving conflict
  • Contributing Assertively to meetings
    Your rights as a member of a meeting
    Making your contribution
  • Continuing to increase your assertiveness
    Preparation for situations
    Reviewing situations afterwards
    Handling situations afterwards