Classroom/ Online: Yes/ No
Scheduling Date(s):
1) Feb 27, 2025 (classroom)
2) May 05, 2025 (classroom)
3) Oct 08, 2025 (classroom)
4) Nov 12, 2025 (classroom)
Note: Please click specific date for detailed venue and course fee etc.
Mastering Assertive Communication
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you wanted to speak up—whether it’s sharing your ideas in a meeting, setting a boundary with a colleague, or saying “no” to an unreasonable request—but you didn’t? Or maybe you’ve been in a situation where someone’s behaviour felt disrespectful or unprofessional, but you struggled to address it directly?
In fact, it is perfectly natural to feel that way. Assertiveness is not about being "loud" or "pushy"; it’s about finding the balance between being respectful to others and respecting yourself. It's about communicating with confidence, clarity, and honesty—without being passive or aggressive.
Why is this important in a professional setting?
Assertiveness isn’t just a communication skill. It is a core leadership skill. When you’re able to express your thoughts, needs, and concerns with confidence, you create healthier work relationships, reduce misunderstandings, and increase your overall productivity. Whether you're in a leadership role or working as part of a team, assertiveness will help you manage conflicts, advocate for yourself, and contribute more effectively.
In this workshop, we will apply practical tools and techniques to help you become more assertive in your daily interactions. We'll talk about how to set healthy boundaries, how to give constructive feedback, and how to stand up for yourself — without guilt, without fear, and without hesitation.
Are you ready to explore your communication potential?
In fact, it is perfectly natural to feel that way. Assertiveness is not about being "loud" or "pushy"; it’s about finding the balance between being respectful to others and respecting yourself. It's about communicating with confidence, clarity, and honesty—without being passive or aggressive.
Why is this important in a professional setting?
Assertiveness isn’t just a communication skill. It is a core leadership skill. When you’re able to express your thoughts, needs, and concerns with confidence, you create healthier work relationships, reduce misunderstandings, and increase your overall productivity. Whether you're in a leadership role or working as part of a team, assertiveness will help you manage conflicts, advocate for yourself, and contribute more effectively.
In this workshop, we will apply practical tools and techniques to help you become more assertive in your daily interactions. We'll talk about how to set healthy boundaries, how to give constructive feedback, and how to stand up for yourself — without guilt, without fear, and without hesitation.
Are you ready to explore your communication potential?
Objective
By the end of today’s session, you will:
• Understand Assertiveness and differentiate it from passive and aggressive behaviour.
• Overcome Self-Doubt: Identify barriers to assertiveness (fear of conflict, rejection, etc.) and work through strategies to overcome them.
• Develop Core Skills: Master practical techniques like saying "no" politely, giving feedback, and standing up and asserting yourself constructively and with confidence.
• Foster a Positive Work Culture: Learn how assertiveness can contribute to a healthy and productive work environment.
• Engage in role-play scenarios to improve communication with colleagues, managers, and clients.
• Understand Assertiveness and differentiate it from passive and aggressive behaviour.
• Overcome Self-Doubt: Identify barriers to assertiveness (fear of conflict, rejection, etc.) and work through strategies to overcome them.
• Develop Core Skills: Master practical techniques like saying "no" politely, giving feedback, and standing up and asserting yourself constructively and with confidence.
• Foster a Positive Work Culture: Learn how assertiveness can contribute to a healthy and productive work environment.
• Engage in role-play scenarios to improve communication with colleagues, managers, and clients.
Outline
Session 1: Introduction to Assertiveness
• What is Assertiveness?
o Defining assertiveness in terms of communication and behaviour.
o The three communication styles: Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive.
• Why Assertiveness Matters: Increases self-respect, improves relationships, and boosts productivity.
• Self-Assessment: Participants take a quick quiz to assess their default communication style (passive, aggressive, assertive).
Session 2 : Overcoming Barriers to Assertiveness
• Identify Common Barriers to Assertiveness:
o Fear of conflict, fear of rejection and lack of confidences.
• Building Self-Confidence and Self-Worth:
o Techniques for boosting self-esteem and managing negative self-talk.
Session 3: Building Core Assertiveness Skills
• The Power of "I" Statements:
o How to express thoughts, feelings, and needs without sounding accusatory.
• The Broken Record Technique:
o How to persistently and calmly assert your needs, especially in the face of pushback or resistance.
• The "Fogging" Technique:
o A strategy to remain calm and assertive when someone challenges your viewpoint.
• Setting Boundaries Effectively:
o Identifying and setting personal and professional boundaries.
o Handling pushback with confidence.
• Active Listening Skills: Responding assertively to others while respecting their viewpoints.
• Non-Verbal Communication:
o Importance of body language, posture, and tone in assertiveness.
o Role of eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures.
• Role-Playing Exercises:
o Participants practice assertive communication using "I" statements in response to common workplace scenarios (e.g., workload overload, handling criticism).
o Peer feedback and group discussion.
Session 4: Assertiveness and Leadership
• Assertive Leadership:
o How to lead by example and empower teams through clear, confident communication.
• Building Trust:
o How being assertive (not aggressive) fosters trust and respect.
• Encouraging Assertiveness in Teams:
o Creating a culture where open, honest, and respectful communication thrives.
• Discussion on benefits of Assertiveness at Work:
o Why assertive leadership can improve team dynamics, morale, and performance.
o Why assertiveness is key to healthy personal well-being, boundary-setting, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
• What is Assertiveness?
o Defining assertiveness in terms of communication and behaviour.
o The three communication styles: Passive, Aggressive, and Assertive.
• Why Assertiveness Matters: Increases self-respect, improves relationships, and boosts productivity.
• Self-Assessment: Participants take a quick quiz to assess their default communication style (passive, aggressive, assertive).
Session 2 : Overcoming Barriers to Assertiveness
• Identify Common Barriers to Assertiveness:
o Fear of conflict, fear of rejection and lack of confidences.
• Building Self-Confidence and Self-Worth:
o Techniques for boosting self-esteem and managing negative self-talk.
Session 3: Building Core Assertiveness Skills
• The Power of "I" Statements:
o How to express thoughts, feelings, and needs without sounding accusatory.
• The Broken Record Technique:
o How to persistently and calmly assert your needs, especially in the face of pushback or resistance.
• The "Fogging" Technique:
o A strategy to remain calm and assertive when someone challenges your viewpoint.
• Setting Boundaries Effectively:
o Identifying and setting personal and professional boundaries.
o Handling pushback with confidence.
• Active Listening Skills: Responding assertively to others while respecting their viewpoints.
• Non-Verbal Communication:
o Importance of body language, posture, and tone in assertiveness.
o Role of eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures.
• Role-Playing Exercises:
o Participants practice assertive communication using "I" statements in response to common workplace scenarios (e.g., workload overload, handling criticism).
o Peer feedback and group discussion.
Session 4: Assertiveness and Leadership
• Assertive Leadership:
o How to lead by example and empower teams through clear, confident communication.
• Building Trust:
o How being assertive (not aggressive) fosters trust and respect.
• Encouraging Assertiveness in Teams:
o Creating a culture where open, honest, and respectful communication thrives.
• Discussion on benefits of Assertiveness at Work:
o Why assertive leadership can improve team dynamics, morale, and performance.
o Why assertiveness is key to healthy personal well-being, boundary-setting, decision-making, and conflict resolution.
Who should attend
The workshop is ideally suited for all employees (from entry-level to senior leadership).
Methodology
You will be immersed in the entire learning system through activities, videos and group discussions to make sure the learning is interactive, experiential and is embedded in your consciousness and long-term memory.
Profile of Celina Anne Gan
ACTA qualified, Certified “Colored Brain Communication”, Certified Human Motivation, Certified Mastery in Dynamic Speaking, AIOBP, ICF, NLP, Body Language
Over 25 years of working in Asia and Europe, Celina Gan has accumulated a vast experience and know-how in working and training participants from different cultures and work backgrounds. Celina conducts workshops in Asia, Qatar and the UK to MNCs, the civil service, IT, educational, shipping, health and airline companies.
Celina was previously a UK Trademark Attorney, Legal Consultant, Head of Copyright and Advisory; Manager of Global Legal Accounts; and Contracts & Commercial Advisor in the UK, Spain, Malaysia and Singapore. In 2012, Celina moved into full time training, being ACTA qualified; and a certified “Colored Brain Communication” trainer; certified Human Motivation and certified Mastery in Dynamic Speaking, both accredited by the American Institute of Business Psychology. She is also certified as a coach and mentor accredited by the International Coaching Federation; certified in Neuro Semantics and Neuro Linguistic Programming; and a Body Language Coach.
Her substantive work, consulting and training experience with the above industries have deepened her understanding of the many challenges faced by different entities, leaders and individuals in an ever changing environment. Celina is therefore able to bring to her clients, realistic and workable practices and options to achieve desired goals and objectives.
Celina is very passionate about training. Her style of training engages participants in practical sessions with personable examples, humour and hands-on activities for instant understanding and applicability. Celina’s motto is: “Stretch your Comfort Zone; Expand your Boundaries; and Enable Transitions to Take Place”.
Celina’s areas of expertise are: Tap into the Power of “Colored Brain Communication” to Elevate the Way You Interact and Build Better Relationships at Work; Uncover Your Top 3 “Emotional Drivers” for Smarter Choices and a Happier Life; Knowing Me, Knowing You – The Key to Unlocking Effective Collaboration; Effective Business Writing; Impactful Negotiation Skills; Leadership People Management; Building High Performance Teams; Managerial and Supervisory Skills; Personal Effectiveness and Being an Employee of Value; Taking Initiatives and Excel at Work and Life; Problem Solving and Innovation; Critical and Creative Thinking; and Time Management and Mastery.
Some of the clients include the Singapore Public Service Division; Defense Science and Technology Agency; Singapore Ministry of Education; Ministry of Manpower; Ministry of Finance; Ministry of Health, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law; Home Team Science & Technology Industry; Commercial Affairs Department; Immigration & Checkpoint Authority; State Courts; Singapore Police Force; Traffic Police; Agency for Integrated Care; Sports SG; Gardens by the Bay; Lululemon; Land Transport Authority; SMRT Corporation; Singapore Kindness Movement; SAA Architects; Schneider Electric; Hoya Electronics; Chemical Industries; Logisteed Asia-Pacific Pte Ltd; Accenture; Fairchild Semiconductor; Philip Lumiled; Broadcom; Intel; Dell; Agilent; Western Digital Singapore and Malaysia; Applied Materials; Health Promotion Board; Singhealth Polyclinic; Singapore General Hospital; Penang Adventist Hospital; The Royal Airforce Clinic in the UK; ISCA; MDIS; Nestle; MSIG Travel Insurance; Unix Line, Braemar Shipping Services, PSA Singapore; Quest Malaysia; Silterra Malaysia; Venture Electronics; Logisteed; Avet Asia; Lululemon; Brainy Bunch; UOB; Regent’s University; London; BathSpa University UK; Nanyang Technological University; Buckingham University UK; Temasek Polytechnic; Singapore Polytechnic; Singapore Institute of Technology; Ngee Ann Poly; NAFA; Singapore Institute of Management Nanyang Primary School, The Muslim Coverts Association of Singapore; Securities Industry Development Corporation; British Broadcasting Corporation; Price Waterhouse Coopers; Singapore Sembawang Airbase; Royal Brunei Airlines; Brunei Investment Agency; Qatar Gas, Qatar; etc.
Celina has also won the award for Extraordinary DC Consultant in Singapore for 2023.
