Boundary Boss -Training Course in Assertive Communication

Asserting oneself is something healthy and needed in any relationship (personal or professional) but it often comes with difficulties to be practiced. Youth workers usually, unfortunately, struggle to communicate assertively.  There are so many occasions in which they have a hard time asserting themselves in a clear, concrete and authentic manner. These are a few examples: 

• Negotiating salary or fee for a series of tasks 
• Standing up for themselves in situations in which they are being treated unfairly 
• Providing critical opinions or negative feedback towards one's performance or behaviour 
• Refusing to “help” a colleague when they have a lot on their plate already 
• Generally to say NO to different invites, proposals, requests, etc. which feels too much, are too much and they know they want to say NO but they cannot say it 
• Drawing clear healthy boundaries in relationships with others 
• Keep doing other people's tasks instead of telling them they did a poor job or to do it again
• Procrastinating in providing certain input/reply with the hope it will be all forgotten instead of saying what they really think
• Compromising the quality of a work to be delivered for the sake of protecting people's feelings
• Ending a collaboration with a person/partner 
• Making assumptions about how other people think about them and as a result, censoring their authentic self 
• Avoiding difficult (but necessary) conversations with partners, colleagues, beneficiaries, etc. 

There are various reasons why individuals don't assert themselves more often/when needed:

• Misunderstanding of what assertive communication is and how it looks in practice. Often is confused with an aggressive type of communication.
• Difficulties in being honest and direct as well as receiving honesty in exchange.
• Fear of having their own feelings hurt and/or hurting other people's feelings.
• Low awareness of what are the benefits of practising more assertive communication in work and personal life.
• Prioritizing other's feelings, and needs over their own. 
• Lack of practical competencies in communicating assertively.
• Low level of confidence and personal strength in dealing with relationships in a more authentic manner.

"Boundary Boss” is a training course for youth workers, trainers, mentors, and facilitators aiming to develop their competencies in using assertive communication to foster authentic, honest, ethical, sustainable and healthy personal and professional relationships.

The training will include a basis in various styles of communication, relevant case studies and examples, practical sessions and simulations, etc. The training will have a very practical approach with the direct purpose of empowering youth workers to confidently communicate assertively in their professional and personal lives. 

The learning process will be guided and facilitated by an experienced team: 

• Andreea-Loredana Tudorache has been involved in the international youth work field since 2003 in various capacities. She is one of the founders of A.R.T. Fusion Association (Romania) and over the years has trained numerous professionals around the work in various topics. (http://trainers.salto-youth.net/AndreeaLoredanaTudorache )
• Tuba Ardic is the Director of Creative Connection, a Trainer at the National Agency of Norway and a passionate youth worker, active mentor, trainer, facilitator and social researcher since 2010. 
• Elena Stevkovska, youth worker, volunteers manager, theatre facilitator and trainer since 2021 (https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/elena-stevkovska.6009/ ) 

Do you resonate with this course and want to be part of it? We are looking for: 

• Members or close collaborators of active Youth Organization for at least 1 year (staff or active member, paid or not). The organization should have a valid OID number.
• A clear professional need to develop assertive communication competencies
• A strong and genuine interest in developing their own competencies in communicating assertively 
• Good command of the English language. 
• People older than 18 years and with a legal residence (proven by documents) in the country they are currently residing in.