Assertive communication in organizations

Mastering assertive communication brings tremendous benefit to the individual, who learns how to express their needs, wants and opinions more effectively. When applied in the workplace, strategies of assertive communication can improve employee well-being and team effectiveness.  

Assertive communication is the art of direct, open, and friendly communication. It is a skill – and like most skills, it takes practice to learn. 

This course is intended to give members of organizations the tools they need to better communicate with clarity, warmth, and honesty. 

Why should workplaces practice communication? 

Through improving the individual skill level of communication within an organization, one can foster a work environment that promotes teamwork, problem-solving and a respectful and to-the-point dialogue. This boosts the psychosocial work environment, overall well-being and can increase productivity. 

What the course covers: 

  • An introduction to different behavioral styles 
  • Basic principles of assertiveness  
  • How to better manage daily dialogues as well as more difficult conversations 
  • Verbal and nonverbal assertiveness techniques 
  • Giving/receiving feedback and handling criticism  
  • Insights from Cognitive and Neuropsychology  
  • An examiniation of our personal rights 
  • Well-being and Assertive Stress Management 

Method 

This course is highly participatory, consisting of written exercises, individual and group reflections, live coaching, reading, and roleplays. We promote action and experientially oriented learning in a safe environment. The content will be adapted to the individual needs of the participants. 

While teaching, we encourage questions and reflections about the subjects. The participants are also invited to share their own experiences if they wish. 

Roleplays offer an opportunity to bring previous experiences back to life. The group is invited to give constructive feedback and aid problem-solving for the individuals involved, mediated by the facilitator. This method has proven to be incredibly educational – both for the ones participating in roleplays and for the helpers observing and giving feedback.  

Expected Outcomes

Depending on the needs and skill level of the individual participants, you can expect to see an improvement in verbal and non-verbal assertiveness. This can be seen in the daily dialogue as well as the more difficult conversations at work. Expect participants to listen more actively, be able to make requests and set limits, contribute to problem-solving, make compromises and act less defensively. 

Long-term effects 

Assertive communication fosters efficiency in the workplace, through improved problem solving and communication skills. Co-workers of previous participants have reported more constructive and positive attitudes in participants. This is of great benefit to the immediate work environment of the person and has the capacity to improve well-being of the individual.  

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