Being able to be assertive when required is a very important skill for all members of staff to have. However, it is important that people understand what being assertive is. It isn’t making people do things the way you want, it isn’t ignoring what other people are saying. What being assertive means, is that people do not take you for granted, do not expect you to do stuff and in the end respect you rather than ignore you unless they need something from you.

Areas you can look at when helping people to be more assertive include:

• How to look at and deal with you own feelings.
• Letting other people know what the boundaries are.
• Finishing conversations that you do not want to be involved in.
• Learning how to say and mean no.
• Increasing confidence.
• Managing awkward situations.

How people respond to assertiveness training depends on what kind of personality they have and how assertive they already were.  This sort of material could be good taught in an employee workshop environment, utilising role play, so that people can get used to saying no and increasing their confidence levels.

Related posts:

1. Communication Skills
2. Working Without Stress - Is It Possible?
3. Management Training - Dealing With Unexpected Reactions

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