1. Improving your assertiveness
Linda Somerville
#nusgathering16

2. Welcome and introductions

3. Learning objectives
Develop your understanding of aggressive, assertive or passive responses
Explore the barriers we have to responding assertively
Identify when assertive behavior can help you

4. Task
Stay in your pairs
Discuss and write down what you think assertive means
Take 5 minutes to do this

5. Assertiveness - Definition
Can be defined as:
“Clarity of communication and respect for self and others”
“Seeking respect and understanding”
“The useful mid-point between passivity and aggression and it is the strategy that usually works best”

6. Assertive, passive or aggressive
Assertive behaviour or response is a choice from a range of responses we can use.

7. Passive or non-assertive
Failing to stand up for your rights or doing so in a way that others can easily disregard them
Expressing your needs, wants, opinions, feelings and beliefs in apologetic or diffident ways
Failing to express honestly your needs, wants, opinions, feelings and beliefs
“Well, I suppose I could. It’s a bit difficult. I might be able to....”

8. Aggressive
Standing up for your own rights, but doing so in such a way that you violate the rights of other people
Ignoring or dismissing the needs, wants, opinions, feelings or beliefs of others
“You must be joking! Can’t you see that I already have enough work for 5 people! It’s impossible.”

9. Barriers to Assertiveness
If it makes sense to Be Assertive then why is it so difficult?
What are the Barriers?

10. Barriers to Assertiveness
If it makes sense to Be Assertive then why is it so difficult?
What are the Barriers?
Are these learnt behaviours? Cultural? Societal? Gendered? Any others?

11. Barriers to assertiveness
In small groups take 5 minutes to think why we find it difficult to be assertive
“You must be joking! Can’t you see that I already have enough work for 5 people! It’s impossible.”

12. Now it’s time to practise!
In pairs
Identify a difficult situation that you have dealt with in the past
How did you respond?
What was the outcome?
How did this feel?
Was there an alternative way to respond?
Swap after 5 minutes

13. Thanks for coming to the session!