Assertiveness in communication – how to communicate appropriately with others, express your opinions and mitigate conflict

Training process

Training needs analysis

If you have specific requirements regarding the training programme, we will carry out a training needs analysis for you. This will guide us on which aspects of the programme should receive greater emphasis, so that the training programme meets your specific needs.

What will you gain?

Setting boundaries - You will learn how to say no calmly and firmly without guilt. This will help you protect your boundaries, especially when someone pressures you or tries to take advantage of you.

Clear self-expression - You will practice using I-statements and learn how to express your needs, emotions, and expectations clearly in a way that reduces tension and improves understanding.

Handling criticism - You will discover how to respond to criticism without becoming aggressive or overly compliant. You will gain practical response patterns that help you stay calm and assertive.

Recognizing your style - You will identify your own communication patterns and see when you act assertively and when you slip into submission, aggression, or passive-aggressive behavior.

Confidence in speaking - You will practice making assertive requests and speaking up in front of others. Through role plays, you will prepare for conversations that require clarity, courage, and composure.

Stronger relationships - You will develop empathy, active listening, and awareness of your own emotions and those of others. This will help you build more honest relationships and respond more maturely.

Conflict effectiveness - You will learn conflict resolution strategies based on assertive communication. You will be better prepared to look for solutions without escalating tension in difficult situations.

Stronger inner dialogue - You will examine beliefs that weaken your assertiveness and replace them with more supportive ones. This will help you act with greater confidence and speak in line with yourself.

Training programme

1. Assertively, meaning how?

a perverse introduction – what do we gain by behaving non-assertively?
an assertive attitude – are assertive people liked?
assertiveness as a way of thinking about oneself, people – assertive communication,
alternative behavioral attitudes toward oneself and others:
- aggression,
- submissiveness,
- manipulation (passive aggression),
life positions of E. Berne’s transactional analysis in the context of assertiveness (I’m OK/you’re OK, I’m not OK/you’re not OK),
„map of assertiveness” – diagnosis of personal areas of assertive and non-assertive attitudes,
assertive human rights.

2. Assertive communication

communication expressing needs, emotions, expectations – I-message vs. You-message,
recognizing and building I-messages – exercises,
Self-Perception Questionnaire test – styles of communicating with others,
areas of my assertiveness – exercises/scenes:
- coping in a constructive/assertive way with criticism. Ways of reacting,
- different versions of NO (firm and gentle NO) – scheme and techniques of assertive speech in the relationship with the client,
- defending the boundaries of your territory – when the client wants to „walk all over you”,
- assertive request,
- assertive expression of requests, speaking in front of a forum,
feedback – how to convey our opinions to others (assertive complimenting, criticizing) – exercises and scenes.

3. Emotional intelligence in theory and practice

about the role of understanding the emotions of others and oneself in the process of building authentic/sincere relationships,
self-test – to what extent am I emotionally intelligent?

4. Conflict Resolution

Learning strategies for resolving conflicts based on assertive communication.
Practical conflict scenarios and exercises that will help participants understand how to apply assertive behaviors in difficult conflict situations.

5. Nonverbal communication

Understanding the role of empathy and active listening in building assertive relationships.
Practical exercises to develop empathy and active listening skills in various communication contexts.

6. Empathy and active listening

Understanding the role of empathy and active listening in building assertive relationships.
Practical exercises to develop empathy and active listening skills in various communication contexts.

7. Pro-assertive internal monologue – on the role of positive beliefs about oneself. Individual exercises

8. Behavior change table – summary

What are the prerequisites for participating in the training?

Basic conversation experience - You should have your own experience with workplace or everyday conversations so you can relate the exercises to real situations where you need to set boundaries or express needs.

Readiness for self-reflection - You should be willing to examine your reactions, emotions, and communication habits, because the training requires you to reflect on your attitudes and thinking patterns.

Openness to practice - You should be ready to take part in role plays, analysis, and practical tasks, because an important part of the training is testing new ways of speaking and responding.

Awareness of your challenges - You should be able to identify situations where it is hard for you to say no, accept criticism, or make a request, so you can work on examples close to your daily reality.