Assertiveness in the Workplace !!!

Being assertive will get you what you want without having to dominate or demoralize someone. This set of skills will help you become more of an advocate, not only for yourself but for others.

What is Assertiveness ?

Assertiveness is an essential communication tool to express your opinions respectfully. Practicing assertiveness can boost your self-esteem and help you implement positive changes in your organization. As an employee, it's important to understand how to create an assertive delivery that is easy for your audience to understand. In this article, we explain the definition and importance of assertiveness and guidance for exhibiting assertive behavior in the workplace.

Assertiveness is a healthy, prosocial behavior in the middle of a continuum. While no one enjoys being walked on, many dislike being overly aggressive. Respect comes from standing up for yourself. Not only will others respect you, but you will respect yourself for speaking up. You bring value, and what you say is impactful. Share it!

Why is assertiveness important?

Assertiveness is important to fostering meaningful workplace relationships. You can feel comfortable expressing your opinion, even if it's different from your coworkers. Showing respect for other's viewpoints can enable you to resolve disagreements and work together efficiently. Assertiveness can materialize differently depending on your hierarchical role:

Assertiveness for employees

Employees often use assertive techniques to communicate firmly and respectfully with supervisors and teammates. Here are examples of when you might want to be assertive at work:

• Asking your manager for a raise: Employees can assure their manager they're committed to their role while explaining that their work responsibilities warrant an increase in salary.
• Vetoing a decision from the group: Perhaps the team reached a conclusion where one member disagreed. The team member can provide evidence for a contrary viewpoint and remain open to their teammates' consideration.
• Establishing an alternative approach to a task: Suppose an employee creates a more efficient way to handle work tasks. They can show appreciation and respect for previous traditions while describing how their strategy can benefit the organization.

Assertiveness for managers

As a manager, it's also important to be assertive to make clear expectations for your employees. You can demonstrate your authority and welcome fresh perspectives to make the work environment more productive. Here are examples of instances where assertiveness might be necessary:

• Assigning tasks to employees: Supervisors can explain why they delegated a specific project to an employee. For example, you can be firm about monitoring their work performance and assure them the task can promote professional growth.
• Taking responsibility for their actions: An assertive leader is transparent and remorseful about their mistakes. They are also receptive to constructive criticism and are willing to improve.
• Remaining calm in unexpected situations: Assertiveness can enable a project manager to reassure employees during a crisis. It involves being firm in how to proceed while empathizing with the concerns of the team.

Tips for been Assertive in the Workplace :

How to be assertive in the workplace

Follow these practices to assert yourself in the professional environment:

1. Use appropriate body language

Body language refers to the stance and gestures you use when describing your thoughts. It's important that your nonverbal cues match your words and reinforce your firmness. An employee that senses your confidence in your body language may feel more inclined to listen to your verbal messages.

Related: 13 Ways To Show More Confident Body Language

2. State your opinion clearly

Effective communication is a significant element of being assertive. An employee may trust your judgment if you state your opinion in a way for them to understand. Here are ways you can express yourself clearly:

• Know your audience. Tailor your message to match the professional background of your conversational partner. For example, if you're speaking with a manager, you might use more technical language.
• Be concise. Being concise can help you maintain the attention span of your audience. Avoid fluff and explain your points directly, respecting the time of your colleague.
• Use specific wording. Make sure your coworker has a thorough comprehension of your message. Consider using numbers or proper names to further illustrate your perspective.

3. Anticipate potential pushback

Pushback refers to resistance your colleague may have to your assertion. Preparing for pushback can help you decide how to reinforce your point. As you practice your delivery, contemplate how your colleague may respond to your initial pitch. Anticipate the concerns they may express and strategize solutions to the problems. You can show your audience you've thought carefully about your perspective, and being firm in your counters can further display your assertiveness.

4. Be prepared to compromise

Compromising involves creating a solution that benefits both parties. It can demonstrate that you respect your coworker's opinions and are willing to sacrifice some of your ideals. Compromise can also maintain a positive relationship between you and your conversational partner.

When developing your argument, prioritize your firm ideals and ones with more flexibility. Monitor the climate of the conversation as it progressed. If you find your colleague remains resistant to your message, then consider volunteering your flexible ideals to end the conversation on a peaceful note.

5. Maintain a positive attitude

Maintaining a positive attitude can ease tension from interpersonal conflict. Here are occasions where it may be helpful to be optimistic:

• Before you deliver your message: Thank them for their time. You can also ask them how they're doing to build rapport.
• When you respond to your coworker's concerns: Assure your coworker that you understand and respect their opinions. Practice active listening to paraphrase their points before following up with your own.

After you reach an agreement: Thank your audience again for meeting with you. Consider reminding them you look forward to working with them in the future.

Getting clear on what you will and won’t do is hard, especially for conditioned people-pleasers. But it’s an essential first step to be assertive and get what you want.

In my experience it is important to lean into your character type and leverage your strengths, it will be difficult to be confident if you are having to fake being someone who is overly outgoing and talkative when you are more reserved. In this example it would be better for you to ask a lot of questions and make the other person the center of attention and be really good at that.

Appropriate boundary setting is important. I find it helpful to

(1) set expectations early

(2) share relevant context where necessary

(3) create space to listen/reciprocate.

This creates a mutual environment of respect and helps to reduce downstream friction.

Handle criticism and feedback

The most important step in developing your assertiveness and confidence is to handle criticism and feedback in a constructive and positive way. Criticism and feedback are inevitable in any workplace, and they can help you improve your performance, skills, and knowledge. However, many people react defensively, emotionally, or aggressively to criticism and feedback, and miss the opportunity to learn and grow. To handle criticism and feedback effectively, you can use assertive language and body language, listen actively and respectfully, and ask for clarification or examples if needed. You can also express your point of view, agree or disagree politely, and thank the person for their input.

Ask for what you want and need

The next step is to develop your assertiveness and confidence is to ask for what you want and need in a respectful and confident manner. Asking for what you want and need can help you achieve your goals, improve your relationships, and increase your satisfaction. However, many people hesitate to ask for what they want and need, because they fear rejection, criticism, or conflict. To overcome these fears, you can use assertive language and body language, be clear and specific, and prepare for possible objections or questions. You can also acknowledge and appreciate others' efforts and contributions, and be willing to negotiate or compromise if necessary.

To develop assertiveness and confidence without being aggressive or passive, focus on understanding your own needs and boundaries. It's also important to practice active listening, use "I" statements, be confident, use positive body language, practice assertive phrases, and avoid aggressive or passive communication.