Assertiveness Skills for the Safety Professional

Chris O’Byrne

Institute of Technology Carlow

22/03/17 - IOSH Ireland Branch, Construction Section, Chris O'Byrne - Assertiveness Skills for the Safety Professional 1

Part 1What is Assertiveness?

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Honest

Shows Respect Confident

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Assertive

AggressiveSubmissive

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SubmissiveYou step on me

AggressiveI step on you

AssertiveNo stepping!

Assertive Behaviour

• Stand up for your rights while treating others with respect they deserve

• Deal Honestly, Openly, Fairly

• Balance

• No guarantees but …

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Assertive Behaviour

Cornerstones

Good Eye Contact

Open Posture

Neutral Tone of Voice

Words You Use

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Part 2Understanding Our Behaviour

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Situation Behaviour Outcome+ =

Control

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Behaviour

Early Programming

Self-TalkYour

Rights

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Right to be Listened to

Don’t Believe have right

• Easily interrupted

• Contribution easily dismissed

• Point of view ignored

Do Believe have Right

• Persist in face of interruptions

• Ensure people listen and understand point of view

• Will listen to other people too!

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Assertiveness – Doing It!

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Assertiveness - Key Principles

• Be Honest about what is relevant

• Stick to the Bottom Line

• Negotiate as Equals

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Assertiveness Techniques

• Controlling your Feelings

• Standing your Ground

• Confronting an Issue

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Body Language

• Eye Contact

• Posture

• Tone of Voice

• Gestures

• Facial

• Proximity

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Honesty

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Example - Criticising Assertively

• Prepare

• Introduce Subject Slowly

• Be Specific

• Ask for Input

• Recap

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Controlling Your Feelings

• Critical Statement: “That jumper is horrible”

• Negative Assertion: “It is pretty awful”

• Fogging: “You think my jumper is horrible?”

• Probing: “What is it about my jumper that you find so horrible?”

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Sticking to the Bottom Line

• Listen

• Decide what is negotiable and what isn’t ?

• Saying No to Request, not to Person

• Use Broken Record technique

• Make Helpful Suggestion

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Example - Saying No Assertively

Don’t

• Apologise too much

• Feel Guilty

• Make Excuses

• Ramble

• Change your reason

Do

• Acknowledge Request

• Use Broken Record

• Give reasons for Refusal

• Suggest Solutions

• Unsure? – Ask for more time and info.

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Negotiate as Equals

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I’m a Black Belt in

AssertivenessMe Too!

Example - Handling Aggression

1. Mentally Distance Yourself – Ran over the Dog!

2. Body Language

3. Assertively Address Themi. Acknowledge Their Emotion

ii. Tell how you feel

iii. Make Helpful Suggestion

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Thank You

Be Assertive!

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