Assertiveness In The Workplace

Assertive communication is when individuals express their feelings and needs directly in a clear and firm way while respecting the opinions and feelings of others. It means standing up for your rights and values without infringing on the rights of others.

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Being assertive in communication can get you what you want without having to dominate or disrespect someone else. An assertive form of communication requires emotional awareness and the ability to read a room, so you know what to say at the right moment.

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Positive assertiveness at the workplace means you work towards meeting your own needs as well as those of others. It can help you become a better leader, increase the quality of relationships, reduce conflicts, reduce frustrations, and lower stress levels. Assertiveness in the workplace is the cornerstone of getting what you want and climbing up the corporate ladder while fostering good work relationships.

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Benefits of Assertiveness in the Workplace

?Adopting a passive style of communication can stand in the way of your success as it can hinder your interpersonal relationships by making you seem under confident, lower your self-esteem, and also increase feelings of stress, anxiety, burnout, or frustration due to not speaking up or setting boundaries. Conversely, being aggressive can make you unlikable at the workplace, label you as the bully, and strain relationships.

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By being more assertive, you allow yourself to positively influence others around you by expressing yourself in a confident, clear, and concise manner along with respecting the opinions of others. Assertiveness can make you more likable at work and help you engage in healthy discussions, foster good relationships, and help you achieve your goals. Being assertive also ensures that both parties know their rights, value, and respect each other and reach a decision by working together without stepping on someone else toes.

?How to be More Assertive at Work

?Assertiveness may come naturally to some individuals, but for some, it may need to be a learned skill that comes with practice. The first step is to identify and assess what style of communication you employ currently. For example, you may need to ask yourself questions like:

1. Do you usually remain silent instead of voicing your opinions?
2. Do you have a hard time setting boundaries?
3. Do you find it difficult to regulate your emotions?

It is important to first analyze your behavior and then work towards making some crucial changes at the right time and in the right situations. Here are some techniques for incorporating assertiveness in the workplace:

1.????? Rehearse:

Rehearsing and practicing assertiveness using the appropriate non-verbal communication like body language, such as maintaining an upright posture and eye contact along with using verbal language like ‘I’ statements and a firm voice can help you adapt to a more assertive style of communication at work. Practice makes perfect and with enough of it, you will be able to assert yourself in a real-life situation in no time.

2.????? Use ‘I’ statements:

Use ‘I’ statements instead of ‘you’ statements so that you don’t sound like you are making accusations and the other party does not get defensive. For example, say ‘I work better when...’ instead of ‘you need to stop doing...’

3.????? Set boundaries and declare needs

It is also important to set boundaries and learn to say no in a direct and effective way. No can be a complete sentence, or you can try saying it using an ‘I’ statement. Saying no is a necessary part of being assertive in the workplace.

4.????? Stick with it

After setting boundaries, do not go back and forth and let people rile you up. If you fail to stick to your boundaries and assert them properly, you may come across as underconfident and passive and run the risk of not being taken seriously in the future. It can also make it easier for coworkers to cross your boundaries.

Example of Assertiveness in the Workplace

?Assertiveness at the workplace can be both verbal and non-verbal as listed below:

·???????? Maintaining boundaries

·???????? Suggesting another strategy or speaking up in a meeting

·???????? Asserting your point of view

·???????? Saying no to working overtime or coming in on the weekends

·???????? Not tolerating someone’s interruption

·???????? Requesting a raise from your boss

·???????? Asking a coworker to do their share of the project

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By being assertive in the workplace, you can experience effective communication, get what you want, and achieve success. Assertiveness can make you seem confident and of high value while also having respect and empathy for your coworkers.

An assertive style of communication is the key to success at the workplace and should be adopted by everyone who wants to be heard, valued, and respected in the workplace.

Sherisse Forrest is a dynamic speaker and soft skills trainer and coach. To bring her to your facilitate a training at your workplace click here . For individual coaching consultations click here.