Win-Win Communication is Where It’s At!
Enhance your ability to behave assertively, which will help you gain confidence and self-esteem, earn respect from others, build better relationships, improve your decision-making skills, and gain more job satisfaction.
You will gain confidence in assertive strategies that gain mutual respect and diplomacy. Being assertive shows that you respect yourself because you’re willing to stand up for your interests and express your thoughts and feelings. It also demonstrates that you’re aware of the rights of others and are willing to work on resolving conflicts.
Of course, your best message is all about ‘how’ you say it. Build upon your own ability to deliver your best message by speaking directly while remaining respectful of the person or situation. If you communicate in a way that’s too passive or too aggressive, your message may get lost because people are too busy reacting to your delivery.
- Learn to be assertive versus passive even if you are shy or overly easygoing. You may routinely say things such as “I’ll just go with whatever the group decides.” You tend to avoid conflict. Why is that a problem? Because the message you’re sending is that your thoughts and feelings aren’t as important as those of other people. In essence, when you’re too passive, you give others the license to disregard your wants and needs.
- Focus your talents on remaining assertive versus aggressive so that you never intimidate, humiliate, or sound like a bully, self-righteous, or superior. Being aggressive does not get you what you want long-term because people through their resentment will plot how to get even with you, avoid you, undermine you, or minimize you.
- Diminish any passive-aggressive behavior, which reveals itself as sarcastic, complaining behind people’s backs, or showing anger through a negative attitude. Avoid the drawbacks of being passive-aggressive because it undercuts mutual respect, thus making it difficult for you to accomplish your goals and get your needs met.
Although our natural style may be ingrained from our own life experience, becoming assertive is still possible with understanding and practice. The payoff will be well worth it because you will be able to express your feelings and perspective more easily.