
Dr. Andrew Bell
PHD, MSC, BA, RPP, FAPM, SFHEA
Project Manager & Researcher
Chartered Project Professional
Academic Professor
Fellow of the APM
Andrew started his Project Management career with 15 years in the automotive industry at Land Rover where he quickly experienced the people side of delivering projects. He then spent 4 years as a Project Management Lecturer delivering short training courses on Project Management topics including Microsoft Project, and the related project management people skills.
Andrew then moved on to spend 13 years at Coventry University teaching Project Management and Research Skills, building his knowledge of Project Management and people issues with a PhD on the use of Project Management Simulations. He has volunteered for the APM for nearly 20 years, and has held committee positions on the Coventry Chapter, Midlands Branch, and National Branch Steering group and as chair of the People SIG committee.
Andrew is currently a ChPP Chartered Project Professional, a Fellow of the APM and also holds RPP status. Andrew has worked with the APM writing examination questions and reviewing membership applications.
Define assertiveness as self-assured, honest, clear self-expression that communicates your views to stakeholders. It builds trust, boosts self-esteem, and improves the clarity and effectiveness of project discussions.
Explore three assertiveness techniques for project managers: the broken record method, a positive, prepared stance, and a three-step process of listening, stating your view, and proposing a win-win way forward.
Learn a three-step assertiveness technique: listen and repeat, state your viewpoint, and propose a way forward by using open questions to guide stakeholder conversations in project management.
Learn to assertively say no in project management, justify refusals with clear reasons, use the broken record technique and rain checks, and deliver bad news honestly.
Navigate conflict management by recognizing conflict as a natural part of change and applying five approaches, avoiding, accommodating, compromising, competing, and collaborating, to reach win-win negotiations.
Explore when to negotiate or pursue alternatives like facilitation, mediation, or arbitration, and how mediators, arbitrators, or facilitators help stakeholders reach an agreement.
Learn a six-step negotiation approach that focuses on the problem, starts with questions, manages emotions with emotional intelligence, and uses appreciation, positivity, and delayed responses.
In this course, you will learn how to drive results and achieve benefits through two essential interpersonal skills: assertiveness and negotiation.
Assertiveness is a style of communication used by project leaders to deal with difficult situations. This style implies guiding stakeholders in the desired direction without being neither passive nor aggressive. Negotiation, on the other hand, is the art of finding a common ground, achieving a win-win, and avoiding giving in too much.
The goal of this course is to equip you with the knowledge and skills you need to apply these two communication skills in your day-to-day job as a project manager. The ultimate goal is to help you become the Project Leader you aspire to be.
Along this course, you will learn how to:
Become an assertive person
Say No when it's needed
Deliver bad news in an appropriate way
Manage conflicts
Negotiate with stakeholders
If being more assertive and a good negotiator is important to you, upskilling your competencies should be among your top priorities. The "The Assertiveness and Negotiation Guide for Project Managers" course tries to demonstrate:
How to set boundaries without becoming inaccessible
How to reach win-win situations
How to become more genuine in relationships without fearing attacks
How to defend yourself against unreasonable requests
In this course, you will learn through examples and scenarios to help you grasp and apply the techniques with your project stakeholders.