Assertiveness

Understanding assertiveness

Assertiveness is widely misunderstood, often equated with aggression, which is not. Here’s more detail to give you a firm foundation in this area.

• Assertiveness is: Submissive, assertive, and aggressive behavior.
• Aggressive Behavior: Being aggressive is not being assertive.
• Submissive Behavior: Being submissive is not being assertive.
• Comparing Behaviors: Comparing assertive, aggressive and submissive.
• Building Assertive Beliefs: Beliefs drive behaviors.

Being assertive

Once you now know what assertiveness is, then here are some methods to help you on your way.

• Acting With Aplomb: Being calm under stress.
• Asking: Asking the other person to do something.
• Assertive Body Language: Non-verbals that work.
• Confident Body Language: Displaying signs of confidence.
• Disagreeing: Disagreeing with what they say and stating your own case.
• Expressing Feelings: Saying what you feel.
• Giving Criticism: Constructively helping others improve.
• Manage Your Boundaries: Don’t take on too much or the wrong things.
• My Agenda, Your Agenda: Balancing motivations.
• Praise: Giving and getting it.
• Receiving Criticism: Taking criticism positively.
• Saying No: Refusing, even when it is hard.
• Standing Up For Your Rights: You can have what is rightfully yours.
• Saying What You Want: You can want anything.
• Speaking Your Truths: Saying what you believe.
• The Three-Part Message: Their behavior, your feelings, wider effects.
• Your Bill of Rights: Know your rights.