ASSERTIVE MEETING REQUIREMENTS

GROUP LOGISTICS
1. Work out the meeting in your group
2. Assume the meeting to be virtual teleconference and not video conference
3. Each group to have one receiver and many speakers
4. The receiver could be a client / external party or a manager.
5. The rest of the group is to assume that they are team members / members of the
same department / members working together on a project.
6. Nominate a call coordinator will handle greeting, small talk, transitions in between
topics, signal end, verbal minutes, close 2 /3 people in the group can share this
responsibility
WORK TOPICS
The meeting will essentially have two points of discussion - Refusing a timeline request /
Saying No, Disagreement with a view - Both these topics can be shared again by 2/3
members
Some communication pointers on what each topic can cover:
Saying No or Refusing a request
Saying No or Refusing a request to deliver by a certain requested date. You need to
negotiate for some additional time.
You can follow a logic path of:
1. Purpose statement
2. Empathy
3. Negative bridge + Negative softener
4. Credible, Concrete Reason for decline
5. Positive Suggestion of possibility to make up the no
6. Time commitment to suggestion
7. Check question

Disagreeing with a view
Disagreeing with the receivers view on some matter - Assume that the view has been
communicated to you in the past and you have analyzed the feasibility and you feel it is not
a good option.

You can follow a logic path of:
1. Purpose statement
2. Acknowledge the view
3. Softener for disagreement
4. Reason for disagreement
5. Your view / opinion
6. Credible, Concrete Explanation to back your view
7. Positive Suggestion
8. Check question
ASSERTIVE SKILLS
The meeting to incorporate the following assertive skills:
1. Agenda please write it out
2. Conversation Structure greeting, small talk, bridge, topic 1, transition, topic 2, signal
end, verbal minutes, close - refer handout
3. Purpose statement background context + intent refer handout
4. Verbal minutes topic, decision, action by who and by when refer handout
5. Speaking glue cohesive devices, signposting, transitions - refer handout
6. Clarity checklist list in handout
7. Concrete words refer handout
8. Care words / Avoid put off words refer handout
9. Build in some responses from the receiver
10. Clarifiers build at least one from either the speaker or receiver
11. Listening acknowledgements - refer handout to chart

I am putting aside the whole of the Tuesday morning session to do these mock meetings.
However, only groups that are prepared will carry out the meeting. I will not allow talking
and noise while groups are presenting.