Assert Yourself with Confidence Course

Availability: Open Course and In-Company

Why attend?

If you want to be an effective communicator, being able to assert yourself is a must. When you are assertive you portray a strong, confident image and are able to put your views across while taking account of other people’s opinions. Non-assertive behaviour causes tension, misunderstandings and conflict at work. This course will show you how behaving assertively can help you achieve what you want and create effective teamwork – essential for achieving success in business.

Who is it for?

People who want to improve their personal effectiveness by being more assertive in the workplace and building better working relationships with customers and colleagues.

What you will learn

What is assertiveness?

• Understanding the difference between assertive, aggressive and submissive behaviour
• The causes of aggressive and non-assertive behaviour
• Principles of assertion and what it means to be assertive – aiming for win-win outcomes
• The power of 'positive intention' and how this influences our actions 
• The benefits to you, your clients and colleagues

Behavioural styles

• Identifying your behavioural style – assertive, aggressive, accommodating or avoiding
• Situations where people sometimes behave non-assertively and when this is appropriate

Self-esteem and assertiveness

• How self-esteem and self-confidence are linked to assertiveness
• Ways to build and maintain self-esteem
• The self-esteem cycle

Body language and voice

• How voice tone, posture and gestures affect the way others experience your behaviour
• Body language that conveys confidence 

Managing inner dialogue 

• Thoughts that work against us instead of for us
• How beliefs are formed, how they limit us, and how they’re expressed: must, should, ought, can’t, have to etc
• Unwritten rules of how we believe we have to be
• The ABCDE model to overcome negative thoughts and beliefs by turning them into positive ones 

How to be assertive: practical techniques

• When, where and why being assertive is useful – in meetings, interviews, negotiations etc.
• Giving bad news to a customer
• Giving positive feedback
• Stating your views and disagreeing with the views of other
• Saying “no” without feeling guilty
• Listening, understanding and making requests without manipulation
• When to apologise and when not to
• Getting your point across in meetings
• Dealing assertively with senior people 
• Power talk versus wimp talk

Handling emotion and difficult behaviour

• How your emotional state impacts on clients and colleagues
• Techniques for handling emotion – yours and other people's
• Being assertive in difficult situations
• How to handle being on the receiving end of aggressive or submissive behaviour
• Handling criticism effectively
• Techniques for people who won't listen and/or won't shift their position 

Benefits to you and your organisationing

• Project confidence and deal with others assertively
• Be more aware of their own style of behaviour and its impact others
• Recognise the difference between assertive, aggressive and passive behaviour
• Express ideas and present information with authority and conviction
• Be able to take constructive criticism in your stride
• Deal with difficult situations, challenging behaviour and emotions, such as frustration and anger, effectively
• Turn around negative thoughts and act constructively
• Make business relationships fruitful and sustainable