About

COURSE OBJECTIVES:
• Develop your skills in assertive communication  
• Build your confidence in dealing with challenging situations
• Capitalise on your strengths in communicating with others

Assertive behaviour enables us to act in our best interests and exercise personal rights without violating the rights of others. Assertive people say and think without apologising or dominating. Assertive people are willing to find mutually satisfactory solutions to interpersonal problems and conflict – which means they are usually able to send the right signals and get the right responses.

Many people often have difficulty saying “no” or are too outspoken and aggressive. Either way doesn’t result in a job well-done or would probably result in damaged relationships. Having said that, there are times when it may be appropriate to be passive or aggressive. So how do you achieve the balance? Assertiveness, Influencing Skills and Conflict Management for Women Managers is designed for women managers who want to find the balance, get things done and get what they want while commanding respect from others.

What’s more, men and women generally communicate differently too. Thus it would pay to observe, analyse and understand where the difference are and how to go about overcoming the differences. If you seek to enhance your assertiveness, influencing and conflict resolution style, Assertiveness, Influencing Skills and Conflict Management for Women Managers is the course for you to get hands-on practice in a supportive environment with other women managers who share similar concerns.
 
EIGHT GEAT REASONS TO ATTEND THE COURSE
1. Recognise and distinguish passive, aggressive and passive-aggressive behaviour
2. Cultivate assertive behaviour to get what you want and get ahead
3. Explore and understand how men and women generally communicate differently verbally and non-verbally
4. Analyse and understand your own behaviour and attitude and how it relates to your effectiveness
5. Identify barriers to your assertiveness and discard habits that impede assertive behaviour
6. Deliver feedback without getting shot
7. Be able to deliver impactful messages that results in win-win situations
8. Learn to manage and resolve conflicts successfully

COURSE APPROACH
Through sharing of ideas and interactive discussions of experiences and issues, we believe you will gain maximum benefit from this course. Throughout the duration of the two days, you will be actively engaging in practical exercises designed to increase your ability to apply the skills you are learning.

Time has been allocated for general discussion and the opportunity to share your challenges and pick up valuable tips from both your contemporaries and the instructor.

“Pam was approachable and positive. The range of content and positive approach was very effective.”
Anna Smyth, Property Manager, Building Solutions

“Pam has a very engaging and positive style. It was good to listen to other people’s experiences and learn about the different and best tools to apply in different situations.”
Victoria Chapman, Financial Accountant, ACC

Outline

The Myths and the Mysteries around Assertiveness
• The extremes and the middle ground of the assertiveness continuum
• ‘Assertiveness’ and ‘Aggressiveness’ – what is the difference and why it is an issue
• Exploring the passive mindset and how it ultimately works against you
• The passive-aggressive personality – what it is and why it occurs
• Defining aggression – why is it ok for some people and not ok for others

The Assertive Woman
• The art of assertiveness – what does it take to cultivate it?
• Exploring the types of situations that test our ability to be assertive
• Common errors that prevent women from being clear and making themselves understood
• Becoming assertive - behaviour that can help your career growth

The Gender Gap
• Men and Women – why we’re different in our communication
• What research tells us about socialisation and how it might have influenced your ability to be assertive
• Avoiding the pitfalls – common mistakes that women make
• How not to diminish your message through body language
• Rationalising your thinking – avoiding the temptation to “act like a man”

Building your Assertiveness Strategy
• Appropriately applying the Assertiveness ‘Bill of Rights’
• Saying “no” when you need to and feeling great about it
• Identifying what has blocked you in the past and exploring new paradigms
• Developing a personal profile to map your assertiveness
• Unlearning and discarding ineffective old habits
• Moving to new heights – integrating diplomacy in your communication style

Delivering and Receiving Feedback
• Four feedback techniques that you can use to help people to lift their game
• Delivering tough messages without getting shot
• Your response “toolkit” – phrases that help you to control your defensiveness
• Understanding the link between thought, language and behaviour
• Adopting a mutual respect stance to build your confidence levels

Managing and Resolving Conflict
• Exploring the relationship between co-operation and assertiveness
• Reflecting on your “habits” around conflict
• Analysing your current conflict resolution style
• Identifying your anger buttons and putting aside your personal anger
• Identifying personal blocks that can stall you in a conflict situation
• Planning to confront and resolve an interpersonal conflict
• De-toxing from major conflict – how to free yourself and move on

Asserting Influence To Get you Ahead in Business and Your Career
• Understanding communication styles and how they can be managed
• Thinking ahead of, and sometimes for, the other party
• Planning your message to achieve impact and maximise retention
• Exploring triggers that can help you to be more persuasive
• Tips and techniques that will help you to negotiate from a position of confidence
• Removing self-imposed barriers that can hinder your success in a negotiation

Facilitator

In-house Training