4-hour Live Workshop

(in a small group of max 6)

You know you're right. You've thought it through, you have the evidence, and then someone with a louder voice or a bigger title pushes back, and you back down anyway.

Or you say 'yes' again even though it's going to cost you your weekend.

Not because you agree with them. Because holding your ground in that moment feels like it will cost you something: the relationship, your reputation or the meeting turning into a battle you don't want to have.

Who this is for

Anyone who find themselves backing down, over-explaining, or losing their footing when challenged by a strong, opinionated colleague, client, boss, or team member.

Does this sound like you?

• Someone confident challenges your decision in a meeting, and you find yourself agreeing just to end the discussion.

• You know your position is right, but a strong, opinionated colleague/client talks over you until you give ground.

• As a Founder, you discount your prices, redo work and accommodate clients who treat your time as if it costs nothing

• You worry that holding firm will make you look difficult, aggressive, or "not a team player".

• You can be direct with people who are polite about it, but the moment someone gets forceful or dismissive, you fold.

• You've been told to "just be more assertive", and it hasn't helped, because nobody has told you what that looks like in the room, in real time

• You say 'yes' to things in the moment and regret it the whole time you're doing them.

• You like coffee ☕☕☕ (free coffee and snacks included)

What we'll cover in 4-hour workshop

✓  How assertive are you?- a self-assessment which will show you where you are right now

✓  The real difference between assertive, aggressive, and passive, and why most people confuse holding your ground with being difficult

✓  Why we freeze and how to stop- why you can be firm with people who are reasonable but fold the moment someone gets forceful or opinionated, and what that reveals

✓  Tools for any situation- how we can buy ourselves time, direct language techniques, DESC and LADDER frameworks; body language analysis

✓  How to disagree with someone senior/more confident without it turning into a confrontation, or you backing down

✓  Lots of practice- a small group allows for individual approach and coaching

✓  Your own scenarios - you'll create your own scripts based on situations from your life

What you will take away

• Workbook that belongs to you with every exercise, script and framework. You can come to it whenever you need

• Practical tools you can use straight after

• A clear picture of where you are on your assertiveness journey

• Two coaching exercises to keep you going

• Permission to say 'NO'- a way of holding your ground with clients, colleagues, friends in a way that is firm and fair

• New confidence & friends 😊

Who this is NOT for

❌ If you're already confident saying 'no' and holding your position under pressure

❌ If you're looking for a management-specific training programme- this workshop is designed for everyone

❌ If you want a passive, lecture-style course- this is practical and you will be asked to participate

❌ If you don't like coffee 😉

Your Facilitator

I'm Kasia Murphy, a Business Psychologist (MSc) and accredited Belbin Practitioner. I've spent the last decade working with individuals and organisations including John Lewis, Taylor Wimpey, SC Johnson, BASF and Merck through exactly this challenge: holding your position without it turning into conflict and building the communication confidence to show up as the person you want to be at work.

Before I retrained as a psychologist, I ran an English language school in Poland for ten years, and built a team of 30. I learned the hard way what happens when you avoid a difficult conversation for too long, and what it costs you when you back down instead of holding firm. This is work I understand from both sides of the table.

When & Where

26th September 2026, 10am- 2pm

Great Brickhill Community Centre
Rotten Row
Great Brickhill
Milton Keynes
MK17 9BA

(Free parking)