Being assertive means conveying your message in a self-assured and confident manner without being aggressive. You must be assertive to express your thoughts, feelings and direction effectively. Increasing your assertiveness will help both you and your business succeed. Assertiveness is an essential communication tool for reducing conflict, increasing confidence, and improving relationships and effectiveness in the workplace.
From an online EdD program in leadership to having planned responses, there are numerous ways to train yourself to be more assertive. Programs such as this help aspiring leaders to implement change in the workplace through strategic thinking and team-building methods. It can help you gain all the necessary tools to innovate and inspire those around you and ultimately drive success within your business or organization.
There are many different leadership types and methods, and what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. However, the basics apply to all variations of leadership. Being assertive can help you work more effectively with others and achieve greater professional success.
Here are a few tips to help you become a more assertive leader:
- Assess your approach
Do you express yourself or remain silent? Do you accept extra work even if your schedule is already full? Are you quick to pass judgment or assign blame? Do people appear to dread or fear speaking with you? Before you start making changes, you should first understand your style.
- Planned responses
Do you have a habit of saying yes to things without thinking about it? If you have a habit of doing this, you should have some go-to phrases for when you’re faced with a request or invitation you’re not interested in. If you say that you need to double-check something, make sure that you get back to the person. Remember that you are not required to explain your decision to decline a request or invitation.
- Value yourself
To be more assertive, you must first gain a thorough understanding of yourself and a firm belief in your inherent worth and your value to your organization and team. This self-belief serves as the foundation for self-confidence and assertive behavior. It will help you recognize that you deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. It will also give you the confidence to stand up for your rights, protect your boundaries and stay true to yourself, your wants, and your needs.
- Personalize responses
Personalizing your communication means framing it from your point of view rather than attributing it to someone else. Words with a ‘you’ perspective – for example, ‘you always’ – are a giant finger pointing right into someone’s face. These phrases immediately raise emotional barriers and cause the other person to become defensive. When this happens, it’s no longer about the issue – it’s about preserving one’s ego.
Conclusion
Being an assertive leader when dealing with customers has several advantages. First, it aids in both increasing sales and retaining customers. As a result, if you haven’t already, you should think about learning and developing it. You will have a satisfied customer base and more referrals as a result. If you practice your leadership skills in real-life situations, you will improve them and achieve the desired results.
