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

1. Assertively, meaning how?

Rather than treating assertiveness as a slogan, this section defines it against aggression, submissiveness, and manipulation. It also uses transactional analysis, personal diagnosis, and assertive rights to examine how beliefs about self and others shape everyday behavior and communication.

• 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

I-messages, boundary setting, requests, and feedback form the practical core of assertive communication. Through exercises and scenes, participants work on expressing needs and emotions, responding constructively to criticism, saying no in different ways, protecting their territory, and speaking up in front of others.

• 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

Emotional intelligence links self-awareness with the ability to read others accurately in professional relationships. Participants examine how emotions influence authenticity and trust, then use a self-test to assess their current level and identify areas that matter for everyday communication choices.

• 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

Difficult conversations often escalate when boundaries, emotions, and expectations are expressed inconsistently. Here the focus is on conflict resolution strategies grounded in assertive communication, supported by practical scenarios that show how to respond firmly without aggression or withdrawal.

• 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

Nonverbal signals shape how assertive intent is received long before words are fully processed. Participants work with posture, facial expression, eye contact, tone, and congruence between message and behavior, so that communication remains clear, respectful, and credible in everyday interactions.

• 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

Assertive relationships depend not only on stating one’s position, but also on accurately hearing the other person. The section develops empathy and active listening through practice in different communication contexts, with attention to understanding emotions, intentions, and the impact of response style.

• 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

Internal dialogue strongly affects whether assertive behaviors are used consistently or abandoned under pressure. This part focuses on positive self-beliefs, replacing limiting interpretations, and individual exercises that strengthen a more supportive and realistic inner monologue.

8. Behavior change table – summary

The program closes with a behavior change table that translates workshop conclusions into concrete next steps. Participants organize target behaviors, identify situations that trigger old patterns, and define actions that support a more assertive response after the training.