Developing Assertiveness & Self Confidence at Work

About

Achieving successful working relationships with colleagues is not always easy. Many people fall into the trap of aggressive behaviour that results in antagonism. Others play a passive role and do not contribute with the confidence that is needed to reflect their talents. However, there is a balance where you can attain the best from colleagues, earn their respect and create a more constructive working atmosphere. By taking this middle -ground you can learn to be more assertive and project a confident, positive self-image.

This seminar will provide practical guidance on how to handle and manage a wide range of workplace situations, so that you can contribute to your organisation’s success with a more confident approach.

Key benefits of attending
By the end of this course you will be able to:• Handle difficult situations and people more confidently and assertively
• Recognise the link between assertiveness, self-esteem and confidence
• Understand the importance of language and body language for assertiveness
• Understand your personal style when dealing with difficult people or situations
• Identify the best approach to use when voicing ideas and opinions to colleagues and senior managers
• Deal with criticism, confrontation, anger, negativity and praise effectively and positively
• Encouraging self development - learn how to receive criticism in a way that enables you to make improvements
• Overcome feelings of apprehension and liaise with colleagues in a more confident and productive manner
• Forge more productive working relationships and avoid offending or alienating others
• Develop a more confident approach to your work and personal life

Training Style
This intensive two-day training programme will combine tutorial sessions with practical exercises and personality case studies throughout, allowing participants to gain first hand experience of assertiveness skills and techniques for increased confidence.

Who should attend?
This training course has been designed for all those who want to raise their personal profile, improve their assertiveness skills and increase self-confidence at work.

Previous Participants have said: “Keith presented a mine of information in an amusing, animated manner. A very relevant and practical workshop that presented a large number of psychological tools to use in the workplace to solve difficult people problems.”
Mike Stockwell, Water & Waste Manager, Christchurch City Council

“I particularly enjoyed Keith’s style of telling stories to illustrate his point. It gives context vs merely theory.”
Mary Sutton, Manager - FMCG, OCG Consulting

"On the whole it was a very good course, Keith gave us a lot of good tools for working & communicating more effectively"
Sarah Neal, Consultant, M-Co

"Keith's enthusiasm is contagious and he believes without a doubt what is is teaching which makes it easy to learn from him.  I enjoyed listening to other attendees scenarios and sharing mine"
"Big thank you to the lovely Conferenz lady who organised our registrations, morning teas, water etc.  It was nice to feel looked after!"
Karma McCool, Project Coordinator, ACC

"It was a fascinating course and I learned a lot about myself.  I also learned new tools I intend to use"
"Keith's style of story telling reinforced each topic"
Jill Cochrane, IT Manager, Hawkes Bay District Health Board

"Really enjoyed the course - didn't neccessarily buy into every single thing, but definately enough to make me feel more confident and equipped to deal with difficult people/situations etc.  Actually looking forward to putting it into practice (started already!)"
Customer Services Coordinator, Regional Council

"There is a lot of useful theory & practical tips on how to improve assertiveness.  I loved the reprogramming section too"
Project Manager, Government Department

"Loved the course. Probably one of the best I have been on"
Engineering Manager, FMCG Company

"Very enjoyable and useful course"
Product Development Technologist, FMCG Company

Agenda

Day one

8.30 Registration

Understanding your personal styles
In this session you will complete a series of short questionnaires helping you to identify some of your communication styles and traits.• Understanding the role of self-concept in managing relationships
• How do people cope when things go against them
• Identifying your own underlying values and beliefs
• Understanding psychological defence mechanisms
• Identifying personal objectives and outcomes

Understanding the role of communication in assertiveness and self-confidence• What is communication and how does it work?
• Recognising the hidden forms of communication
• Assessing your own communication style
• Understanding the power of intimidation
• Crazymakers - understanding frustrating non-verbal communication strategies
• Why we say ‘yes’ when we mean ‘no’
• Recognising the communication styles in your organisation
• Non-verbal communication and the role of matching
Individual activity: Mapping the communication styles of colleagues, bosses, and friends

Psychological aspects of interpersonal behaviour• Understanding how people influence and change our behaviour
• Learning how what we communicate may be the opposite to what we mean
• Understanding the role of ‘splitting’ in destroying relationships
• Recognising the role of emotion in persuasive argument
• Using ‘pairing’ to build powerful messages
• Recognising deception in communication

Mini-skills development: Questioning and listening

Building a confident and assertive personality• Breaking through the fear barrier
• Moving from negative to positive ways of thinking
• Using psycho-cybernetics to create the right outcomes
• Turning your intentions into actions
• Gaining control over your non-verbal communication
• Reprogramming the behaviour of others

Day Two

Assertiveness skills for increasing your influence
Becoming assertive does not mean becoming aggressive or outgoing. It is the process of developing the understanding and skills to enable you to be who you want to be without feeling pressured or intimidated by others.• The key principles of assertiveness
• Understanding your personal rights
• Differentiating between assertiveness and aggression
• Achieving a personal style that balances assertiveness and aggression
• How to say ‘No’ in a non-confrontational way
• Effectively managing ‘guilt trips’ and ‘emotional blackmail’
• Voicing your opinion: Do’s and dont’s
• Defending your decisions effectively
• Employing listening techniques to help you reach solutions
• Remaining calm yet authoritative in difficult situations

Mini-skills development: Small group practice of assertiveness techniques

Taking the bite out of criticism
Employing effective methods of constructive criticism can actually strengthen workplace relationships. This session will examine techniques for ensuring that criticism is conducted effectively and demonstrates how it can be received without acrimony.• How to give or accept criticism positively and without conflict
• Learning to talk frankly about other people’s behaviours without causing offence
• Using criticism as a problem solving process, rather than as a punishment or conflict
• Encouraging self development - learning how to receive criticism in a way that enables you to make improvements

Managing conflict and anger in the workplace
Successful business is built on maintaining good relationships with colleagues and customers. Utilising the techniques that really work for dealing with difficult people and situations, will increase confidence, improve performance, reduce stress and make your work life more rewarding.• Identifying potential sources of conflict
• Understanding how anger works and how it can be managed easily
• Employing active listening skills and reading the signs
• Techniques for managing personal anger
• Managing conflict in meetings

Confronting and resolving difficult or sensitive issues
At some point it is usually necessary to discuss the issue. This session provides a very powerful process that can be applied in almost any interpersonal situation in or out of work.• Planning the interaction
• Avoiding the ‘problem’ trap
• Communicating your needs in an assertive but sensitive manner
• Getting to the heart of the issue without probing
• Identifying solution options
• Ensuring long term buy-in and commitment to a good outcome

Mini-skills development: Small group application of the Seven Step model

Your ongoing assertiveness developmentIdentifying areas for on-going personal development
• Building a communication plan to use with superiors, colleagues, staff, friends and family
• Thinking about where you want to go in life
• Establishing your goals and a plan of action for implementation on your return to work

Facilitator

Keith McGregor, Personnel Psychology NZ Ltd

After completing his psychology degree in 1974 Keith joined the Royal New Zealand Air Force as an industrial psychologist. During 12 years in the RNZAF, Keith was involved in a wide range of organisational and personnel psychology including such areas as selection test development, interviewing, training development, selection validation, personal counselling, large scale survey work and statistical analysis. Also during this time Keith represented the New Zealand Defence Forces in behavioural sciences projects with psychologists and researchers from the British, Canadian, Australian and American armed forces.

In 1986 Keith became a director of Gilmour McGregor & Associates, a psychological consultancy employing registered psychologists of various disciplines: clinical, forensic and industrial. Among the numerous organisations he has worked with, both national and international, Keith is recognised for his executive assessment work and in particular for his extensive knowledge of interview techniques, testing and test development. Large scale survey research work also remains a focus, as does staff training, organisational development, career related counselling. He is also the developer of Selector-PA, E-Profiler and Career-Step computer programs for employee selection and management.

While remaining a director of Gilmour McGregor and Associates, in 2003 Keith established Personnel Psychology NZ Ltd to enable him to focus on providing personnel assessment, training and support to managers and staff. Keith is a registered psychologist and coordinator of the industrial/organisational special interest group for the Occupational Division for the New Zealand Psychological Society and Human Resource Institute of New Zealand.

Keith McGregor is also facilitating:

• Dealing with Difficult and Different Personalities
• Investigative Interviewing Techniques
• People Management Skills for Technical Professionals
• Planning, Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Planning, Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Strategically Influencing Across Your Organisation

In-house Training

Prices and Registration

* Early bird price available when you register and pay before the dates listed.