Communication Training DVD
Four different scenarios are role-played in this DVD, showing people in organisations communicating passively, aggressively, manipulatively and assertively.
This is a fantastic learning tool clearly showing how behaviour in the workplace impacts on business outcomes and on other people.
The scenes are set in the context of a Training & Consultancy business but are easily transferrable to any business or organisational context.
This DVD is designed for trainers and coaches to utilise when delivering Assertiveness Training, Communication Skills, or sessions with elements of Delegation, Management Skills or Dealing with Difficult People.
Some of the scenes can also be used in the context of sessions such as Coping with Aggression or Bullying in the Workplace.
After each scenario, the key learning points are listed on a slide.
The full list of scenarios featured is as follows:
Scenario 1: Delegating Assertively
There are three scenes in this scenario. In the first scene Kathy is shown delegating a task to a team member in a way that she thinks reinforces the need for them to report back to her swiftly. She perceives the team member to be unreliable and although she thinks she's delegated well, she also thinks she will have to chase him up to get the work done. In the second scene Kathy's manager helps her to see that the way she has delegated the task may be contributing to the response she gets from her team member. In the third scene she tries again and this time she is assertive, clear and sets a deadline.
Scenes are titled:
Kathy’s Unclear Delegation
Kathy’s Manager Gives Guidance
Kathy’s Assertive Delegation
Key Learning Points
Scenario 2: Dealing with Aggression
There are two scenes in this scenario which show Miranda (a Trainer) coming back from a course she has cancelled, and being confronted with her very irate and angry manager. In the first scene she is naturally passive in the face of her manager's aggression, and the situation goes from bad to worse with the manager shouting and being insulting to Miranda. In the second scene Miranda deals with him in a different way. This time she is calm and assertive.
Scenes are titled:
Miranda’s Cancelled Course (passive)
Miranda's Cancelled Course (assertive)
Key Learning Points
Scenario 3: Dealing with Manipulation
There are two scenes in this scenario in which Miranda is being asked by a colleague to do a piece of evening work which she doesn't really want to do. In scene one we see Miranda being manipulated by the use of flattery and the use of 'guilt inducing' language to agree to the work. She then complains to another team member that she feels forced into doing it. In scene two we see Miranda using her assertiveness skills to avoid being manipulated and to stand up for her own rights whilst not ignoring the needs of others. She ends the scene with much enhanced self esteem feeling proud that she has 'stuck up for herself'.
Scenes are titled:
Miranda's Evening Work (passive)
Miranda's Evening Work (assertive)
Key Learning Points
Scenario 4: Giving Feedback
This set of scenes are based on a scenario where a manager is trying to give feedback on a report to a member of her team. This clearly shows how the differing behaviour of the team member influences the behaviour of the manager as well as the outcome of the whole interaction. In the first scene Richard responds passively to the feedback and doesn't ask any questions. He goes away from the meeting feeling dejected and demotivated. The manager also is displeased with the lack of positive response, dreading the next time she will have to give feedback as he seems to take it so personally. In the second scene Richard responds aggressively to the feedback and in the end the manger loses her temper with him. The issue is not resolved and a very negative feeling is left with both parties. In the final scene Richard responds assertively. Although he is disappointed that his report needs more work he responds by asking clarifying questions and leaves the meeting knowing exactly what he needs to do. The manager is also left feeling positive that the next time he submits a report it will be a better one.
Scenes are titled:
Richard's Report (passive)
Richard's Report (aggressive)
Richard's Report (assertive)
Key Learning Points
(Please note the music does not run over the scenarios on the DVD - this is for demonstration purposes only)
Communicating Assertively
Training DVD
£150
plus VAT
How we use the 'Communicating Assertively' DVD
In our training courses, we use the DVD as part of a session to encourage people to understand and identify the more common behaviours people display when communicating in the workplace, and the problems that can create for them.
By this time in the course we have already introduced them to definitions of aggressive, passive and assertive behaviour, all of which are vital when trying to understand the dynamics of communication.
• Initially we play the ‘non-assertive’ first scene from a scenario (aggressive, aggressive manipulative or passive)
• We ask course participants to identify the types of behaviour they are seeing during the short role-play, recognising verbal and non verbal aspects of the behaviour shown.
• We lead a discussion about whether these are common behaviours, asking if anyone has examples of similar experiences they have had in the workplace.
• Participants can then be asked to role-play a similar scene, but this time trying to improve the situation by changing how they deal with the situation
• The final scene or scenes can then be played and lessons are drawn from the DVD through discussion
Remember the role-plays are not perfect, they represent real life. Ask the participants what they think of the situation, and then you may want to make comments on other options or approaches the player has open to him or her in order to manage the situation shown in a more assertive way.
On most courses we select two or three scenarios which we think are most suitable for that business, or that people have identified as problems they have faced before.
You may, of course, just want to show the more positive examples on the DVD, and you may want to use the bullet points on the slides following the scenarios to lead further discussions.