Assertive and nonviolent communication: why this practice is so important for the organization

Assertive and non-violent communication play key roles in fostering a harmonious and productive working environment. They combine skills that are becoming increasingly valued in the job market and have a major impact on business success.

What are assertive and nonviolent communication styles?

Assertive communication is the ability to express thoughts, feelings and needs in a direct, clear and respectful way. It's an approach that places a high value on transparency, authenticity and finding collaborative solutions.

Nonviolent communication, in turn, is a broader approach, proposed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg. It relies on the principles of empathy, active listening, and communicating personal emotions and needs without blaming or criticizing others. Nonviolent Communication is intended to promote mutual understanding and resolve conflicts peacefully.

What are the most important foundations of these practices?

The key foundations of both assertive and nonviolent communication are:

• Self-awareness: Knowing your own emotions, needs, and values is vital to effective communication.

• Active listening: Learning to listen attentively, without interruptions, judgments or prejudices is a really important part of understanding what others are saying.

• Clear expression: Knowing how to express thoughts, feelings and needs in a direct way, without ambiguities or aggressiveness, plays a vital role in assertive communication.

• Empathy: Developing the ability to put yourself in someone else's shoes and understand their viewpoint and emotions is a key part of nonviolent communication.

How can assertive and non-violent communication be applied in the workplace?

In order to understand and apply these principles, employees can undergo training in order to develop a few specific skills, such as:

• Providing constructive feedback geared towards observable behaviors;

• Accepting feedback openly and non-defensively;

• Developing active and empathic listening with a focus on conflict resolution;

• Expressing feelings and needs in a non-accusatory way.

It's worth pointing out that training both employees and leaders, and incorporating the elements of assertive and non-violent communication into their own standards and performance assessment criteria, can go a long way in terms of creating a more harmonious and productive environment.

Now, let's learn a few practical examples of applying these forms of communication in everyday work.

Giving feedback to a Colleague:

• Situation: You've observed that a colleague is often late for meetings.

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC): “I've noticed that you've been late for the last three meetings. This has me a bit concerned, since delays can affect our productivity. Could you share what's going on?”

• Benefit: The issue is addressed without any accusations or judgements, encouraging an open conversation.

Discussion of Team Ideas:

• Situation: During a team meeting, there is a disagreement over what the best approach should be for a project.

• Assertive Communication: “I understand that we've got differing opinions on this. Let's take a deeper look into the advantages and disadvantages of each approach before making a decision.”

• Benefit: This fosters an environment of respect and consideration, while avoiding unnecessary conflicts.

Conversation with a Supervisor about Work Overload:

• Situation: You're feeling overwhelmed due to too much work and tight deadlines.

• Assertive Communication: “I'd really like to discuss my current workload. I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and would like to know if we can adjust the priorities.”

• Benefit: Your needs are expressed in a clear way and solutions are sought without creating any tension.

Feedback for a Leader:

• Situation: A member of your team is not meeting deadlines.

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC): “I've noticed that deadlines are not being met. This has me somewhat worried, since it has a negative impact on the project. How can we fix this together?"

• Benefit: Constructive feedback is given without blaming or demotivating the employee.

Negotiation of Conflicts between Colleagues:

• Situation: Two colleagues have opposing views on how to resolve a problem.

• Nonviolent Communication (NVC): “I understand that you've got a different point of view. Let's try and find a solution that fulfills both of our needs.”

• Benefit: A consensus is sought and harmful confrontations are prevented.

Positive impacts on the organization's culture

Adopting assertive and non-violent communication can have many positive impacts on organizational culture, such as:

• Healthy relationships: By promoting mutual respect, empathy and transparency, practicing assertive and non-violent communication encourages healthier and more cooperative relationships between employees.

• Team efficiency: Clear and direct communication helps to avoid misunderstandings, unnecessary conflicts and repetition of work, increasing the efficiency and productivity of the team.

• Organizational climate: Creating an environment where people feel heard, valued and respected contributes to a positive and motivating atmosphere in the workplace.

• Conflict resolution: The non-violent approach to conflict resolution creates an atmosphere of mutual understanding and is a way to seek out solutions that satisfy the needs of all parties involved, reducing conflicts and promoting cooperation.

• Reduced turnover: The rate of dismissals may decrease, given that healthy work environments and more harmonious professional relationships are important requirements for most professionals. 

In short, assertive, non-violent communication is a powerful tool for fostering a healthy, collaborative, and productive working environment. By investing in employee training in these practices, organizations can reap significant rewards in terms of interpersonal relationships, operational efficiency, and company climate.