Assertiveness

Assertiveness links so closely to influence, confidence, better relationships and communication. To be assertive allows you to take control of how you are feeling and enable a win win outcome for both sides.

What can you do to be more assertive?

We discuss a number of things you can do to become more confident and more assertive. These include:

• Improve the quality of relationships, take time to get to know people better and understand their problems

• Make time to think and reflect, often there’s more than one way to approach the situation and you need the right game plan

• Understand the other persons viewpoint, find out the root cause. Often the immediate issue you are addressing isn’t the route cause to their resistance

• You can’t change the other person, but you can change your own behaviour. If you keep approaching things the same way and don’t get results then doing more of the same rarely works.

The DEAR technique to be more assertive

Catherine has an interesting model to help you be more assertive. There are 4 parts to the request you want to assert

D = Describe the situation

Start by describing the situation as you see it to the other person. “It appears that…..”

E = Express your feelings

Next, bring emotion into the conversation. “This makes me feel………

A = Assert your belief need or want

Make sure there’s an action. Not a place to say sorry. Be clear what you need from the other person. “I would appreciate you doing……”

R= Reinforce other person

Let them know you appreciate them. A thank you in advance is a great way of getting the action you want.

https://www.growcfo.net/podcast/39-how-to-be-more-assertive-with-catherine-clark/