In today's constantly evolving and competitive business landscape, it is increasingly critical for women to establish a strong and assertive presence in the workplace. When applied skillfully, assertiveness techniques and practices can improve nearly every aspect of both your professional work and personal life. Understanding which tools and methods to deploy, and recognizing when and how to use them appropriately, is absolutely essential. AMA's comprehensive assertiveness training program for women is an intensive three-day seminar that addresses the particular and distinctive challenges women encounter in business environments. This program gives you access to the assertiveness techniques and skills you will need to thrive and advance in today's competitive professional world. Through the application of these competencies, you will gain confidence that you are projecting the right messages that will generate the desired professional responses. These tools and approaches will help you command respect and maintain professionalism while treating others with respect, and will enable you to navigate virtually any challenging situation professionally without appearing harsh or unreasonable.
AMA's assertiveness training for women provides a safe, encouraging environment where you can practice essential assertiveness skills and openly discuss your professional challenges with other women in a supportive setting. You will evaluate and assess your own leadership style and approach, then apply the new techniques and tools you have learned directly to real situations and challenges you face at work. You will receive constructive feedback, and you can refine your skills through recorded practice sessions. When you complete the program and return to work, you will bring a comprehensive strategy and flexible plan for building the assertiveness your professional role demands.
Target Audience and Participants:
- Female professionals in business settings who are committed to strengthening their assertiveness capabilities, overcome limitations in their current approach, and improve how they communicate with assertiveness in their work environment
How You Will Benefit:
- Identify and explain the characteristics of four distinct assertiveness styles
- Evaluate your personal assertiveness style and assess how effectively you use it
- Demonstrate and apply assertiveness techniques using supportive and respectful communication approaches
- Create a specific action plan to work through at least two personal challenges related to assertiveness
- Discover and capitalize on the distinctive strengths of your particular leadership style, while addressing areas for growth
- Develop flexibility in your leadership approach so you can interact effectively and assertively with different personality types and communication styles
- Practice and incorporate assertiveness techniques into your everyday interactions and work situations
Topics and Areas Covered:
Core Principles of Assertiveness
- Distinguishing passive behavior, assertive behavior, and aggressive behavior in business settings
- Learning how socialization and cultural factors have shaped your behavior and approach in the business environment
- Recognizing specific work situations and obstacles that make assertive behavior challenging
Evaluating and Assessing Your Assertiveness
- Identifying your natural assertiveness style preferences and tendencies
- Evaluating the strengths and limitations of your assertiveness style
- Understanding how your core value systems influence your level of assertiveness
- Finding strategies to minimize role conflict and competing demands
Building Confidence and Comfort in Your Identity
- Learning the assertive dimensions of developing comfort with yourself by building self-esteem, Knowing yourself, initiating dialogue and negating negative self-talk
Assertive Communication and Speaking Skills
- Understanding the three main dimensions of communication and the factors that influence their power and impact
- Recognizing and understanding the distinct verbal and nonverbal communication patterns of men and women
- Practicing active listening and reflective listening to strengthen assertiveness
- Learning to receive feedback and criticism assertively while maintaining your confidence
Assertiveness Tools and Tactical Techniques
- Learning and practicing a five-step model for expressing yourself assertively
- Exploring and practicing four specialized assertive techniques: repeated assertion (broken record), accepting criticism without agreement (fogging), acknowledging your limitations (negative assertion), and asking clarifying questions (negative inquiry)
- Practicing how to decline requests and set boundaries
- Learning how to respond confidently to common disrespectful comments
- Practicing through video recordings
Assertiveness in Real-World Situations
- Reviewing and applying strategic tools, frameworks, and techniques
- Using assertiveness techniques to work through and develop strategies for your own challenging workplace situations
- Getting feedback on your approach and plans for addressing your most pressing challenges
Assertiveness and Your Leadership Practice
- Assessing your leadership style and preferences
- Learning about the five core dimensions of centered and grounded leadership
- Discovering new ways to apply assertive leadership in your professional work and personal life
Creating Balance and Well-Being
- Learning and practicing techniques for managing anger and strong emotions
- Developing skills for preventing and managing stress
- Using a four-step model to strengthen personal well-being and achieve a greater balance between work and life
- Exploring the value and importance of women's peer networks and support systems
- Establishing your personal plan for continued growth in assertiveness
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Core Learning Goals
- Define assertiveness and understand the characteristics and strengths of four distinct assertiveness styles
- Evaluate your own assertiveness style and measure its effectiveness in different situations
- Demonstrate assertiveness by using supportive and respectful communication approaches
- Create a personal development plan to address at least two obstacles to assertiveness and practice new techniques in daily interactions
Foundations of Assertiveness
- Provide a clear definition of assertiveness
- Distinguish among passive behavior, assertive behavior, and aggressive behavior patterns
- Learn how socialization and gender roles have shaped your professional behavior
- Identify specific work situations and personal obstacles that challenge your assertiveness
Assessing Your Assertiveness Style
- Determine your natural assertiveness style preferences
- Identify and evaluate the strengths and limitations of your style
- Discuss how your core values influence your assertiveness
- Develop strategies to manage and reduce role conflict
Developing Self-Confidence and Authenticity
- Describe the key assertive components of building self-confidence through self-esteem, self-awareness, initiating dialogue, and eliminating negative self-talk
Assertive Communication Skills
- Identify and explain the three main dimensions of communication and their impact
- Understand the distinct communication patterns and styles of men and women
- Practice and apply active and reflective listening skills
- Learn to respond to feedback and criticism in an assertive way
Assertive Techniques and Practices
- Demonstrate a five-step model for assertive self-expression
- Learn and practice four key assertive techniques: broken record, fogging, negative assertion, and negative inquiry
- Practice saying "no" in professional situations
- Learn to respond to disrespectful comments professionally
Assertiveness in Case Study Analysis
- Review strategic tools, models, and approaches
- Apply assertiveness techniques to analyze and plan your response to your own challenging workplace situations
- Receive feedback on your personal strategy
- Provide feedback to peers on their assertiveness strategies
Leadership and Assertiveness
- Assess your leadership style
- Explore five dimensions of centered leadership
- Identify new opportunities to apply assertive leadership approaches in your work and life
Balance, Resilience, and Ongoing Growth
- Identify at least five techniques for managing anger
- Learn and practice techniques for preventing and managing stress
- Discuss the importance and benefits of women's peer networks and support communities
- Create your personal development plan for assertiveness growth
