Assertiveness Skills: Communicating with Authority & Impact

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