Asserting Yourself At Work

Table of Contents

1. Cover Page
2. Title Page
3. Copyright Page
4. Contents
5. About This Course
6. How to Take This Course
7. Introduction
8. Pre-Test
9. 1 Assertiveness—What It Is and Why It Matters
   1. Assertiveness Defined
      1. The Assertive Mode
      2. Passivity
      3. Aggression
   2. Assertiveness and the New Workplace
      1. Assertiveness as a Signaling Mechanism
      2. Assertiveness as a Learned Behavior
   3. Recap
   4. Review Questions
10. 2 Progress Begins with Self-Awareness
    1. Benchmarking Your Motivations
    2. Your Assertiveness Profile
       1. Your Score
       2. Interpreting Your Score
    3. What Influences Your Assertiveness Mode?
    4. Childhood Experiences
    5. The Transference Trap
    6. Perfectionism
    7. The Role of Attitude
    8. Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence
    9. Recap
    10. Review Questions
11. 3 Building Your Assertiveness
    1. Your Needs, Wants, Interests, Values, and Goals
       1. Needs
       2. Wants
       3. Interests
       4. Values
    2. Your Goals
       1. Short-Term Goals
       2. Intermediate Goals
       3. Long-Term Goals
       4. Legacy Goals
    3. Speaking Up for What Matters to You at Work
       1. Engage in a Positive Internal Dialogue
       2. Verbally Communicate in Assertive Ways
       3. Use the Most Effective Communication Channel
       4. Practice Good Timing
    4. Assertive Written Communication
       1. Have a Clear Purpose
       2. Make Your Message Clear and Crisp
       3. Use the Most Effective and Appropriate Mode
    5. Recap
    6. Review Questions
12. 4 Assertive Nonverbal Communication
    1. The Power of Nonverbal Communication
    2. Six Dimensions of Nonverbal Communication
       1. Body Movement
       2. Body Contact
       3. Eye Contact
       4. Interpersonal Space
       5. Silence
       6. Paralanguage
    3. Putting Together the Dimensions for Assertive Nonverbal Communication (ANC)
       1. Make Proper Use of Space
       2. Maintain a Professional Appearance
       3. Give a Firm Handshake
       4. Use Direct Eye Contact
       5. Use Good Posture
       6. Purposeful Gestures
       7. Control Your Facial Expressions
       8. Effective Vocal Delivery
    4. A Nonverbal Communication Journal
    5. Align Your Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
    6. Recap
    7. Review Questions
13. 5 Assertiveness Opportunities at Work
    1. Developing Positive Visibility at Work
       1. Action #1: Speak Up and Share Your Views
       2. Action #2: Participate Actively in Meetings
       3. Action #3: Disagree Agreeably
       4. Action #4: Be Your Own Best Champion
       5. Action #5: Handle Compliments with Grace
       6. Action #6: Look at Constructive Criticism as a Self-Improvement Opportunity
       7. Action #7: Create a Daily Assertiveness Plan
    2. Take Responsibility for Your Performance at Work
       1. Take Credit for Your Successes
       2. Don’t Take Responsibility If It’s Not Yours
    3. Recap
    4. Review Questions
14. 6 Addressing the Needs and Interests of Others
    1. Evaluating Your Listening Skills: A Self-Assessment
       1. Totaling Your Score
       2. Interpreting Your Score
       3. Moving Toward Assertive Listening
    2. Three Levels of Listening
       1. Level 1: Listening to Be Aware
       2. Level 2: Listening to Learn
       3. Level 3: Listening to Engage
    3. Exploring the Needs and Interests of Others
       1. Create a Safe Environment
       2. Ask Probing Questions
       3. Avoid Questions that Provoke a Defensive Response
       4. Reciprocate
       5. Be Proactive
    4. Cultural Barriers to Communicating Needs and Interests
       1. Time and Trust Building
       2. Cultural Dimensions
    5. Responding to the Needs and Interests of Others
       1. Think It Over
       2. Focus on the Issue, Not the Person
       3. Use Collaborative Language
       4. Expand the Options
       5. Find Common Ground
       6. Aim for Win-Win
       7. Win Graciously
    6. Recap
    7. Review Questions
15. 7 Identifying and Maintaining Assertive Boundaries at Work
    1. Identifying Boundaries at Work
       1. Boundaries of Respect
       2. Boundaries of Ethics
       3. Boundaries of Time
       4. Boundaries of Heath and Safety
       5. Boundaries of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment
    2. Maintaining Assertive Boundaries at Work
       1. Say “No” Literally
       2. “No” in Other Words
       3. Say “No” Right Away to Sexual Harassment
    3. Recap
    4. Review Questions
16. 8 Assertiveness and Dealing with Difficult People
    1. Four Techniques for Dealing with Difficult People
       1. The Screaming Rant Defense
       2. The Broken Record Technique
       3. Fogging
       4. Negative Inquiry
    2. Disarming the Workplace Bully
       1. Understand the Bully’s Goal
       2. Determine If You’re a Target
       3. Protect Your “Self “
       4. Blow the Whistle
       5. Get Yourself Out of the Bull’s-eye
    3. Recap
    4. Review Questions
17. 9 From Assertiveness to Influence
    1. What Is Influence?
    2. The Role of Influence in the Workplace
    3. Three Building Blocks of Influence
       1. Self-Confidence
       2. Credibility
       3. Reciprocity
    4. Recap
    5. Review Questions
18. Appendix: Your Assertiveness Checksheet
19. Bibliography
20. Recommended Resources
21. Web Sites
22. Glossary
23. Post-Test
24. Index