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Wellbeing

How to be confident and assertive at work

Many people in the NHS find themselves holding back in meetings, avoiding difficult conversations or saying yes when they’re already stretched. This session helps you build the confidence to speak up without feeling like you have to be forceful or apologetic. It’s about finding a calmer, more grounded way to communicate, even when the pressure is high.

Date Wednesday, 15 April 2026 14:00 PM - 15:30 PM
Where Details Online Online - MS Teams
User Details Members: Free
Level Details Suitable for all levels
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Radio12386 people viewed this event

What you’ll learn

  • What assertiveness really looks like in everyday work situations, andhow it differs from being passive or aggressive
  • Ways to express your views clearly and calmly, even when conversations feel uncomfortable
  • Practical responses you can use when someone is abrupt, dismissive or pushing back
  • How to set boundaries around workload and expectations without guilt or escalation
  • How to prepare for situations that often knock confidence, such as meetings, presentations or interviews
  • Simple habits that help you pause, manage self-doubt and respond in a way that reflects your values

Who is this webinar for?

Anyone who wants to feel more confident speaking up, especially if you tend to stay quiet in groups, worry about being seen as difficult or struggle to say no when you’re already overloaded.

Lead facilitators

Anna Thame

Anna is a senior communications professional with 30 years’ experience. Anna has held Director of Communications roles in national organisations across the public sector, in healthcare and education at organisations including the Design Council, and an acute Trust, where she led significant service change and reconfiguration communication programmes for eight years. She has advised senior teams, developed and delivered strategic communications reviews, led insight-gathering programmes and stakeholder engagement. She is a qualified educator and experienced facilitator and enjoys facilitating in person and online. She keeps her knowledge current as a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM) and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Anna is currently an NHS Elect Associate and independent consultant.

Anna has extensive experience in supporting organisations to develop their communications strategies as well as enabling teams to develop their communications skills. As an experienced facilitator and qualified educator, Anna also offers facilitation to support workshops, meetings and events and provides communications training. As a trusted communications expert, Anna supports teams with their engagement planning for change, stakeholder insight gathering, strategic communications reviews and content development.

Richard Horner

Richard is an Associate at NHS Elect, working three days a week with the team and at a coffee shop in Reading he owns for the remaining two days.

He spends the majority of this time facilitating sessions on topics such as Resilience, Leadership, Teams and Difficult Conversations. Prior to joining NHS Elect, Richard worked with the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust where he qualified as a mediator. Prior to this, he managed a leadership programme for a university.

Richard's passion lies in helping people to improve their capacity for self awareness so they can help themselves to greater self leadership. He believes this ultimately leads to a greater capability for people awareness and better organisational leadership.  Richard uses techniques for better breathing, mindfulness and gratitude to improve the foundations of self awareness.

What participants say

90%

of attendees would recommend this session to a colleague.

“This is a subject that can be frustrating at times, feeling powerless to make change, but this session gave us some very interesting ideas on how to start.”