Assertiveness training skills are vital for personal and career success, as they allow expression of opinions, feelings and needs in a healthy way.  These skills will enable you to protect your rights, set healthy boundaries and accept compliments graciously.

If your self-esteem is low, it’s difficult to express yourself assertively. That’s where our assertiveness training course comes in handy.

Building Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills is an online program that will give you insights into understanding the different aspects of the communication process and help you apply effective techniques, both at work and in social settings.

In this assertiveness training course, you’ll learn to identify and use a range of communication styles, body language, and listening and questioning skills to build and develop your assertive persona!

So, if you need some help to communicate your wants and needs, whether in your personal or professional life (or both), this course will provide you will have the skills, knowledge and confidence you need!

Learning Outcomes

Outcomes achieved by undertaking assertiveness training include:

• Origins of low self-esteem
• Changing the conditioning
• Putting things in perspective
• Improving self-esteem
• Stop spreading negative messages
• Negative and negating comments
• Making Connections
• Throw out perfectionism
• Building self-esteem
• Building confidence in others
• Putting others at ease
• Presenting yourself well
• Creating positive impressions
• Our thoughts on creating impressions
• Making connections
• Throw out perfectionism
• Increasing our self-esteem
• Assessing internal factors
• Communication skills
• Personal conflict
• Collaboration
• Assertion
• Assertive behaviour
• What assertiveness will not do
• Selective assertiveness
• Passive behaviour
• Aggressive behaviour
• Language
• Circle of concern and influence
• Causation
• What the circle of concern represents
• Circle of influence
• Learn to be assertive
• Learning how and when to say no
• Saying no
• Saying yes
• Communication
• Listening
• Open/closed questions
• Aspects of communication
• Non-verbal messages
• Body language, tone and words

 

… and more!

 

What Determines Self-Esteem?

In psychology, self-esteem describes a person’s sense of self-worth or value. It’s a term that reflects how much a person appreciates and likes themselves. It involves a variety of beliefs, such as how a person feels about their appearance, beliefs, emotions, and behaviours.

Many factors contribute to our self-esteem, such as:

• Personality
• Health
• Age
• Thoughts
• Social connections
• Reactions of others
• Comparison of self to others
• Genetics
• Life experiences

The good news is, while self-esteem is a complicated construct, it’s not fixed! You can positively build your self-esteem with work and patience. One way to start improving your self-esteem is by learning to communicate assertively.

Assertiveness – How Important Is It?

Assertiveness training is crucial in the workplace, and it’s a skill that allows harmony and productivity to reign supreme! But it’s just as important in your personal life because it’s key to building and maintaining healthy relationships.

Being assertive isn’t easy without training and practice because there’s a fine line between assertiveness and aggression. One clear way to recognise the difference is in considering what drives the behaviour. Assertive behaviour is based on finding a balance between expressing your own needs and respecting the rights of others, while aggressive behaviour is based on winning at all costs.

The 4 Types of Communication

The way a person interacts with others is unique, but there are four broad communication styles:  passive, aggressive, passive-aggressive and assertive.

Assertive communication is proven to be the most effective because it incorporates the most beneficial aspects of all the other styles.

It is helpful to understand the different types of communication styles in order to understand how and why people communicate in specific ways.

#1 – Aggressive

Aggressive communication is often loud, demanding and involves intense eye contact. The aggressive communication style can include intimidating, criticising, threatening and blaming behaviour.

Aggressive types of communication involve commands, rude questioning and an inability or unwillingness to listen to others’ points of view.

Aggressive communication signs:

• Talking fast without pauses
• Standing too close
• Pointing
• Clenched fists
• Sneering
• Smirking
• Nostril flaring

An example of aggressive communication:

“I know when I’m right!”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“You completely got this wrong again.”

 

Aggressive communication results in:

• Lack of real connection with others
• Stress
• Unmet goals

#2 – Passive – Aggressive

In passive-aggressive communication, people may appear passive on the surface, but underneath there’s anger. The anger is often subtle and indirect so that it can be confusing for those dealing with a passive-aggressive person.

Those who adopt a passive-aggressive communication style are usually feeling powerless or resentful and feel unable to deal with difficult situations or emotions.

Passive-Aggressive communication signs:

• Mutter under their breath rather than confront issues
• Have trouble acknowledging their anger
• Use facial expressions that don’t match feelings
• Deny having a problem
• Appear cooperative while being annoying or disruptive
• Uses sabotage to get even

Passive-aggressive communication results in:

• Alienation from others
• Continuing to feel powerlessness
• Holding resentment while others addressing real issues

An example of passive-aggressive communication:

“Fine. Whatever.”

“I’m coming!”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’ve done so well for someone with your education level.”

“I was joking!”

#3 – Passive

Passive communicators avoid expressing opinions and feeling, and as a result, their rights and needs are often not met. People who use passive communication don’t react to hurtful or anger-inducing situations but let hurt feelings build-up.

But everyone has their tolerance threshold, and when passive communicators react, they’re prone to explosive outbursts that are out of proportion.  This overaction then triggers feelings of shame, guilt and confusion, and so the passive communication cycle continues.

 

Passive Communication Signs:

• Failure to assert themselves
• Allows others to infringe on their rights
• Inability to express feelings, needs, or opinions
• Speaking softly
• Apologetic
• Poor eye contact
• Slumped posture

 

Passive-Aggressive Communication Results In:

• Feeling out of control
• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Worthlessness
• Feeling resentful

 

An example of passive communication:

“I don’t mind. I’m okay with whatever you want to do.”

“It really doesn’t matter that much.”

“I just want to keep the peace.”

#4 – Assertive

Assertive communicators state opinions and feelings honestly and firmly while respecting the rights of others. They are able to respect and value themselves while also respecting the rights of others.

Assertive Communication Signs:

• States needs and feelings honestly, clearly, appropriately, and respectfully
• Uses “I” statements (not “you”)
• Communicates respect for others
• Listens without interrupting
• Feels in control of self
• Maintains good eye contact
• Speaks calmly
• Demonstrates relaxed body language

Assertive Communication Results In:

• Feeling connected to others
• Feeling in control of their lives
• Mature attitude as problems are addressed as they arise

An example of Assertive Communication:

“We are all equally entitled to express our opinions.”

“Can you explain why you did that, please?”

“I feel frustrated when you arrive late for meetings.”

“I understand what you’re saying, but I disagree.”

 

Now that you’ve learned about the four basic communication styles, why not learn even more with our assertiveness training course, The Certificate of Self-Esteem and Assertiveness Skills?