Assertiveness Skills Program

Assertiveness is a skill for effective communication in which you listen to others’ opinions while also asserting your own opinions and ideas. It differs from aggressiveness in which the sole focus is on asserting one's own rights, and passiveness in which a person does not speak up for themselves. In this course, you will learn how to speak up by using proven frameworks to express your own thoughts candidly while considering the needs of others.

Program Summary

Learn how to communicate efficiently and assertively with colleagues and clients at all levels in an organization. This program helps you apply practical win-win communication techniques to solve common workplace problems.

Target Audience

Anyone seeking solutions for interpersonal communication challenges both in and outside the company.

Program Outcomes

  • Be able to communicate your own opinions after fully understanding the opinions of others
  • Understand different communication styles and be able to deal with conflicts
  • Learn to problem-solve while communicating assertively

Available formats

Can be conducted both in person and online

Learning Objectives

  • Understand what assertive communication is and why it is important
  • Distinguish between assertive, aggressive and passive behaviors, and clarify appropriate situations for using each style
  • Apply assertiveness techniques in work-related situations, and gain greater confidence in your ability to communicate assertively
  • Recognize common barriers to assertive communication
  • Develop a real-world action plan for applying assertive communication on the job

Classroom Training

Virtual Training

Duration

Two x 2.5-hour sessions.

We can customize the delivery schedule to meet your company's needs.

Learning Methods and Tools

This program centers on experiential learning and uses a wide variety of group exercises for practicing and applying skills including:

  • Online self-study
  • Individual reflection
  • Pair, small-group and classroom discussion using breakout rooms
  • Role plays and real plays
  • Personal action planning

Pre-program work

Self-paced online video content
The Basics of Assertiveness

  • What is Assertiveness?
  • The three styles and their impact
  • The DESI model of assertive communication
  • What is active listening?
Session 1
  • Basics of assertiveness techniques
  • Exercises for making assertive requests using the DESI model
  • Saying “no” using the DESI model
Session 2
  • Practice active listening
  • Practice expressing a difference of opinion
  • Overcoming obstacles to communicate assertively

Post-program work

Post-program learning

  • On-demand module

Post-program work

Post-program assignment

  • Create a real-world action plan

Duration

Two days

Learning methods and tools

This program centers on experiential learning and uses a wide variety of group exercises for practicing and applying skills including:

  • Exercises and discussions to reflect on one's own thinking and behavior
  • Pair, small-group and classroom discussion
  • Role play with cases studies
  • Personal action planning
Day 1

Note: All our programs can be customized to meet your company’s specific needs.

  • Definition and benefits of assertiveness
  • Understand the fundamental model of assertive communication
  • Learn techniques and expressions for assertively communicating requests
Day 2
  • Learn how to say "No" to requests while maintaining a win-win relationship.
  • Learn techniques and expressions to express difference of opinion while maintaining a win-win relationship.
  • Practice active listening skills
  • Understand how to overcome obstacles to communicate assertively