The Assertiveness Workbook: Contents

In Part One, Understanding Assertiveness, four styles of communication are discussed: Assertive, passive, aggressive, and passive-aggressive. The major barriers to assertive behaviour are reviewed. These include stress, pressures from other people, and hidden beliefs about the nature of assertiveness and one's own role in life. A set of alternative, constructive beliefs is presented.

Part Two, Becoming Assertive, presents the different assertiveness strategies, each with a set of tips on their implementation. Topics covered include: Nonverbal behaviour, giving one's opinion, giving and receiving positive feedback, giving and receiving corrective or critical feedback, saying 'no', making requests, and coping with conflict situations.

Acknowledgements
Introduction: Being there

Part One: Understanding Assertiveness

Chapter 1. What is assertiveness?
Chapter 2. Overcoming the stress barrier
Chapter 3. Overcoming the social barrier
Chapter 4. Overcoming the belief barrier
Chapter 5. Reality check
Chapter 6. On the launchpad: Preparing for change

Chapter 7. Becoming visible: Nonverbal behavior
Chapter 8. Being present: Giving your opinion
Chapter 9. Taking the good: Receiving positive feedback
Chapter 10. Giving helpful positive feedback
Chapter 11. Taking the valuable: Receiving negative feedback
Chapter 12. Constructive, not critical: Giving corrective feedback
Chapter 13. The assertive 'no'
Chapter 14. Making requests without controlling others
Chapter 15. Preparing for conflict
Chapter 16. Constructive confrontation