Assertive Communication Skills

Course Overview

Assertiveness Essentials

• Recognizing modes of interactive behavior​
  • Considering critical attributes of assertive behavior
  • Identifying characteristics of nonassertive behavior
  • Acknowledging areas of personal vulnerability and opportunity
  • Responding appropriately to manipulation or bullying
• Contextual and situational considerations
  • Asserting 360 degrees: peers, direct-reports, bosses and vendors
  • Assessing the impact of organizational culture
  • Accommodating intercultural norms
  • Navigating power relationships within the organization

Expressing Personal Power

• Pinpointing patterns of behavior​
  • Raising self-awareness
  • The role of personal history
  • Exploring how identity, fear and habits impact results
  • Creating new personal effectiveness
• Mapping how people handle conflict

• Enhancing your ability to respond to conflict
• Recognizing your conflict style
• Responding differently to different situations
• Considering the role of Emotional and Social Intelligence

Overcoming Challenging Situations

• Applying viable assertiveness techniques
  • ​Deciding which situations call for assertiveness
  • Witnessing the dynamics of constructive and destructive interactions
• Adopting effective assertiveness strategies
  • Developing options to respond productively
  • Identifying your assertiveness style and adapting your approach
  • Giving up blame and focusing on solutions
  • Seeing the win-win potential of cooperation
  • Finding the root cause through effective questioning

Building Your Assertiveness Skill Set

• Committing to assertive and skillful outcomes​
  • Developing powerful nonverbal communication
  • Accepting responsibility for resolution
  • Initiating improved communication
  • Communicating clearly in complex situations
  • Deflecting criticism and personal attacks
• Developing the tools
  • The power of "I" statements
  • Saying "no" productively
  • Addressing difficult issues using the DESC approach
  • Pushing through resistance

Mastering Assertiveness

• Establishing a proactive assertiveness style​

  • Taking time to think clearly
  • Modeling productive approaches
  • Responding to everyday situations
  • Giving and receiving feedback
• Practicing effective assertiveness principles
  • Leveraging a four-step process model
  • Accurately assessing your situation
  • Targeting desired outcomes
  • Measuring results

Launching Your Assertiveness Plan

• Constructing an assertiveness action plan​
  • Adopting an attitude of responsibility and mutual respect
  • Committing to timelines and outcomes
  • Prioritizing changes in assertive behavior
• Putting the "action" into the assertiveness action plan
  • Constructing a blueprint for your action plan
  • Reinforcing your newly developed assertiveness skills
  • Scheduling time to assess progress
  • Practicing assertive behaviors
  • Modifying your action plan to accommodate change