What do you do if your assertiveness is being misunderstood by senior stakeholders?

Se você percebe que sua assertividade está sendo mal interpretada por stakeholders seniores, é um bom momento para refletir sobre o que pode ser melhorado. Muitas vezes nosso tom de voz pode parecer tenso, ou podemos n?o perceber prontamente que o estilo de comunica??o do interlocutor é diferente do nosso, o que pode comprometer a harmonia da intera??o. Estou aqui para ajudar você a desenvolver técnicas que ajustam desde a estrutura de fala, postura e a express?o facial até o tom de voz, garantindo que sua comunica??o seja eficaz e acolhedora. Afinal, a responsabilidade da comunica??o é sempre de quem emite a mensagem.

Seek clear feedback from stakeholders to identify how your assertiveness is being interpreted. When this is properly understood one will see how assertiveness is being misconstrued and adjust accordingly or give clarity.

I've taken proactive steps to refine my communication style and ensure clarity of intention. Seeking feedback from trusted colleagues, I've adapted my approach to align with their preferences and build positive relationships. By clarifying intentions, using examples, and remaining open to feedback, I've successfully addressed misunderstandings and fostered effective communication. Additionally, in overcoming challenges of being managed by a junior manager previously, I've approached the situation with professionalism and adaptability, maintaining open communication and focusing on mutual goals to ensure a productive working relationship.

Reflect on Feedback: Consider if there’s truth to the perception and review your communication style. Seek Clarification: Talk to stakeholders for specific instances where assertiveness was seen as negative. Communicate Intentions: Explain that your assertive actions aim for the best team and company outcomes. Adjust Communication Style: Make changes to be more inclusive, open, and empathetic if needed. Training and Development: Improve skills through communication and leadership training. Follow-Up: Check back with stakeholders to see if communication has improved after adjustments.

Evaluate if your tone or approach might be unintentionally coming across as aggressive. Sometimes we don't know how we sound or how we come off until we are told. Evaluate your tone will help you to understand this better.

Assess whether you adapt to the different styles of the stakeholders sufficiently, considering their cultural background and/or personality. Your direct and confident tone will be perceived differently by an Eastern-European or by a person of Scandinavian origin.

Use open ended questions to allow for the stakeholder to express their reasoning, so you gather information as to where the perception may come from. Sometimes the perception is cultural or perhaps triggered by events not linked to your discussion in particular.

Adapt your communication style to ensure your assertiveness is perceived as confident and professional. Work on your communication skills and listen to everything from what is said to what is not said. Proper communication can help to clear misunderstandings and make assertiveness come off much more professionally

In the Heat of the moment, Stay cool! Project storms can test your composure, but professionalism is your shield. Focus on facts, not feelings. Graceful communication builds trust, showcasing your strength as a leader who prioritizes project success over ego. Remember, it's about collaboration, not confrontation. You can be firm and flexible, a champion for your ideas while open to working together for the best outcome.

Expressing the genuine intention to work for the benefit of the stakeholder and deliver outcomes in alignment to their priorities is key. Showing openness and collaborative approach will allow for a smoother acknowledgment of views.