Tips to Improve your Assertiveness

Tips to Improve your Assertiveness

Do you recognize the feeling: "When I say NO, I feel guilty..."?
According to Revelle College, UC San Diego,
“One of the most common problems in communication is caused by trying to read people's minds or expecting them to read yours. If you want people to respond to your ideas and needs, you have to be able to say what they are, and say it in a way that will make others want to respond appropriately”.

Assertiveness is the ability to present one’s opinion positively, deal with conflicts sensibly and rationally when they occur while balancing one’s own needs with the needs of others.

Below I share some ideas and techniques to improve your assertiveness skills and also help others to express themselves in a more assertive way.:

1. The very first and most important in all is: Remain calm under pressure.
2. Develop personal strategies to cope with stressful situations (instead of accepting all tasks and projects irrespective of priorities and workload).
3. Understand your own limitations and openly discuss problems and do not adopt body language or a voice level that conveys aggressiveness or submissiveness.
4. Manage the magnitude of work and ask for help where needed. Do not accept inappropriate workload without even asking for assistance.
5. Don't be obsessive about your own views and opinions and don't defend these to the end without considering others.
6. Present your ideas directly and sensitively.
7. Do not withdraw from situations when facing opposition or accept the point of views of others without questioning.
8. Adjust your body language and voice, carefully choosing words, to meet the needs of the situation.
9. Learn to say ‘NO’ and to refuse opportunities without feeling you are offending the other person.

I would appreciate your views on assertiveness...

		Comments Sort by date Sort by rating Rating
		5 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Some Good Definitions of Assertive Communication / Assertiveness Assertive communication means to be able to express your opinion freely and without hesitating about... Sign up

		4 Anonymous
	How to Ask for Something Assertively Be clear about what you want before you ask for it. Avoid apologizing (like saying: "I'm sorr... Sign up

		2 Javier Elenes Business Consultant, Mexico
	To be Assertive, be Brief My tip is JUST SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY, but say it in a short sentence - just like the subject in a... Sign up

		4 Roozbehkh Entrepreneur, Australia
	Fundamental Personal Rights and Assertiveness Before focusing too much and techniques on how to be assertive, I recommend to answer this question ... Sign up

		2 Armando Martinez Merino Manager, Mexico
	Clarifying the True Meaning of Assertiveness We should try to treat assertiveness objectively, as it often seems to be confused with condescensio... Sign up

		2 Ivy Balopi Entrepreneur, Botswana
	Assertiveness: Knowing You are not your Feelings Assertiveness is also the ability to differentiate the ‘matter’ from the person. Being assertive is ... Sign up

		2 Rasheedah shuaibu HR Consultant, Nigeria
	Appreciating Individual Opinions on Assertive Communication! Thanks for bringing up this interesting and educative topic for discussion.. I must say I have learn... Sign up

		1 Henry Osehimolen Management Consultant, Nigeria
	Be Assertive Without being Perceived as Arrogant Sometimes the line between assertiveness and arrogance is fine, due to the wrong body language. In a... Sign up

		1 Roozbehkh Entrepreneur, Australia
	More Tips on Assertiveness Use active sentences instead of passive sentences: instead of saying to your employee "these must... Sign up

		4 Jaap de Jonge Editor, Netherlands
	Triangle Technique for Eye Contact Eye contact can portray warmth, trustworthiness, and self-confidence. But too much eye contact may l... Sign up

		2 Jeremy Marentette Director, Canada
	Helping with Assertiveness Hi Everyone - I'm a first time poster and am happy to be joining the community conversation. Thanks ... Sign up