introduction
What we said about Assertiveness and our worksop ethos was as follows.
Assertive communication involves neither manipulative, submissive nor hostile and destructive behaviour. It includes the skills of direct expression of positive or negative feelings, making and refusing requests, and responding to criticism without being demolished or hitting back. Our approach to assertiveness training offers you the opportunity to explore the model and methods in order to build skills of self-awareness, honest, direct and clear communication and sensitivity to oneself and others. A holistic approach is taken, incorporating skills-building in emotional and cognitive areas of personal development as well as behavioural change.
assertiveness for women
Women's courses provided an opportunity to practise basic skills and look at areas which women find particularly difficult e.g., saying ‘no’ and surviving the guilt; expressing anger; setting priorities and the fear of criticism.
assertiveness for men
This will give men the chance to practise basic assertiveness skills and will also look at areas which men find particularly difficult e.g., strategies for meeting competition, insensitive jocularity, cynicism, abuse of power, sexist and racist behaviour.
follow-up and review
For men and women who have attended an introductory assertiveness training course. It will give the opportunity to evaluate progress in developing assertiveness and reducing tendencies towards being aggressive, submissive or manipulative (indirect). There will be the chance to practice, revise and extend assertive skills.
assertiveness at work
This course will cover in depth the assertiveness training model and related skills building methods. You will have the opportunity to explore dificulties in using assertive skills within organisational contexts.
applying assertiveness in education and training
This is a course for educators and trainers who wisk to introduce elements of assertiveness training into their curricula and have little direct experience of assertiveness training themselves. For the first two days, you will undergo an introductory assertiveness training course. The last three days will give the chance to learn how to facilitate introductory assertiveness training sessions. Also we will explore how your ongoing relationships with your students can reflect and consolidate the assertiveness training model.
assertiveness teacher training
This training workshop is for those who have significant and ongoing experience with assertiveness and have attended an Assertiveness Training Workshop and have relevant experience in their own personal and interpersonal growth.
The course consists initially of five days, with a two-day follow-up four months later.
The training can be approached in one of two ways:
(i) A certificate of attendance will be awarded to those who complete the Assertiveness Teacher Training and in addition further workshops at the University in Six Category Intervention Analysis and Dimensions of Facilitator Style, and who co-facilitate or assist on an Introduction to Assertiveness course before the follow-up days. (This they must arrange for themselves). This is suitable for those who would like to prepare to teach basic introductory courses.
(ii) You may wish to attend only the seven days of the Assertiveness Training course. This would be suitable for those who would like to make assertiveness a more important facet of their wider training work.
The training will include an intensive review of the assertiveness model and its relationship to confidence and self-esteem, practice of facilitation skills and workshop design. A variety of exercises, role-plays and skills practice, review discussion, self and peer assessment and accreditation will be used.
Applicants were vetted by application, with details of experience in Assertiveness and other relevant personal or interpersonal growth.
