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Mastering Assertive Communication
A bespoke, three-part workshop series for parish and town council officers and councillors
Have you ever experienced a conversation or situation where you have struggled to be heard, where other people involved have used language that feels like an attack? Or have you ever had a conversation that left you feeling dissatisfied with the outcome?
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This three-part workshop series is designed to give you confidence, an understanding of the power of language and strategies for positively influencing outcomes. This course is spread over three two-hour workshops to maximise learning, self-reflection, and time to implement your new strategies in conversations you may have in your council and beyond.
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Assertiveness is not about getting your own way, but about striving for positive outcomes in all interactions within your council. It is about respecting yourself and others. It's about being grounded enough to share thoughts and ideas in an objective way. ​This course will give you the understanding, tools and resources to achieve this. ​
Three workshops to give you confidence and put you in control
Our three-part workshop series will empower you to navigate conversations and situations of all kinds. Whether it's heated meetings, giving or receiving difficult feedback or managing confrontation and conflict, we've got you covered.
With each session you'll benefit from:
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A live, two-hour workshop​
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A recording of each workshop
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A useful workbook to help guide you through each session
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A collection of practical resources to implement after each workshop
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An opportunity to share best practice and challenges with your peers​​
We are running each session on multiple dates. Each delegate is able to choose whatever date and time works for them.
Assertiveness Part 1: Emotional Intelligence Foundations
In this first workshop, we will cover:
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The neuroscience of how our brains work and how this impacts on our personal behaviour.
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An introduction to Emotional Intelligence. Discover what it is and how we can improve it.
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An introduction to Assertiveness. Discover what it is, what it isn't(!), and how it can help us to communicate more effectively.
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Understanding aggression and manipulation, and what these mean for how we think and act.
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Current Dates Available:
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13/04/26 at 10am
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15/04/26 at 1:30pm
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21/04/28 at 6pm
Assertiveness Part 2: Practical Assertiveness Skills in Action
In this workshop, we will cover:
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The impact of fear and stress on effective communication and assertiveness.
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Why we sometimes choose to be passive and how we can manage this.
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Assertive responses during stressful situations, difficult conversations and disappointment.
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Practical strategies for assertive behaviour.
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Current Dates Available:
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27/04/26 at 10am
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29/04/26 at 1:30pm
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05/05/28 at 6pm
Assertiveness Part 3: Influencing Others Effectively
In this workshop, we will cover:
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Creating positive relationships through understanding behaviour.
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Understanding bias and prejudice and applying critical thinking.
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Giving feedback effectively.
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Action planning to ensure transfer of learning.
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Current Dates Available:
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18/05/26 at 10am
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13/05/26 at 1:30pm
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19/05/28 at 6pm
Each session builds on the last, with new skills and techniques being introduced. Your council will also save money, compared with the cost of buying all three separately.
Meet your trainer - Janet Webb
Janet Webb is an experienced trainer, with decades of experience in facilitating workshops in assertiveness and effective communication.
Janet's experience includes delivering training for local council officers and councillors.
Her expertise is in helping people to understand how their brains work, where their emotions come from and how they impact behaviour.
Janet is a chartered member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Ticket Prices
Tickets are £110+VAT for all three of the two-hour workshops, which includes access to each live virtual event and event recordings, as well as downloadable workbooks and other practical resources.
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You are also able to get group discounts if you want to book places for your entire council team. ​Registering three or more and get 20% off each registrant. If you are a larger council and want to register more than six people, get 30% off each registrant's ticket.
How each session will work
Learn something relevant to your role
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Each session will build on the one before diving into a specific area of assertive communication. Detailing the why, what and how behind the ways we communicate. Everything is explained in plain English and grounded in real experience.
You'll leave with strategies and practical tools
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Before each workshop, you will receive reflective questions for you to consider so you are able to get the most out of each session. During and after each workshop, you will be able to work through the reflective workbook provided to help you put into practice everything you learn.
Get clarity on your questions
These are live sessions designed to support you, not talk at you. You will have time to ask questions and explore issues that affect you directly. You will receive clear answers and practical guidance that reflects your lived experiences.
What local councils are saying about our workshops and training
Clerk
Breakthrough Communications are really helpful, easy to get hold of and easy to talk to.
The advice they give has been tested recently and has stood up to that test, so I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending them. We certainly feel a sense of comfort knowing they are available for any unexpected issues.
Officer
Attended online training today and it exceeded my expectations. Very friendly, collaborative approach and I came away energised and full of ideas !
Officer
Very useful presentation -informative and plenty of time for questions
Councillor
Recently attended a training event run by Breakthrough. The training was targeted at Pariah Councillors. It was an excellent event that provided clear guidance, and information. As someone who has worked in IT for my entire career, I can highly recommend Breakthrough. These guys are the real deal.