I always talk about this with my daughters. I encourage them to be assertive in their communications because assertive people posses distinct advantage over those who Are not. I see evidence of it everyday. Assertive people get to go after what they want and because they do, they are most likely to succeed. They enjoy more discounts, they get to negotiate their salaries better, are more likely to win deals with customers, get listened to and liked more than others. They are more likely to get the job done because they are able to seek the resources they need either from you, their workmates, the suppliers or the customers.
Let me make myself clear now. Assertiveness is not aggressiveness. Assertive people are not offensive while those who communicate aggressively can be quite abrasive. Assertive people, ask, stand their ground on issues and negotiate their way through but they do not use any autocratic power or emotional blackmail to get what they want. They are respectful but are not pushover. They can argue but they also listen.
Imagine having this kind of people in your team. They’d come forward with their observations and suggestions, they participate in improvement discussions and are able to express if their are experiencing any problem. An assertive purchasing person can negotiate for the suppliers’ best price, discounts, freebies and extended guarantees. An assertive Line Manager can communicate upward, downward and sidewards more effectively so that work is better coordinated. HR would be able to take a more effective internal consultant role because they are unafraid to call spade a spade.
The question now is if assertive communication is so beneficial, why are companies not so excited about helping their employees build the skill? The answer is they underestimate the entire concept of assertiveness. They underestimate its value, they underestimate what it takes to build a culture of open communication and they underestimate their own ability to make it happen.
Why, because most Filipinos are unassertive. We are either passive or aggressive. Being assertive is being in strange waters. It’s risky and we don’t want to risk it.
Being assertive is largely a matter of attitude as it is a matter of skills. Skills can be taught and attitudes can be changed. When people know how to be assertive, then they can decide to be assertive. If managers like you and me create an environment that encourages assertiveness, people become more confident and comfortable about being assertive and they become better at it. You reap the benefits after.
Give us a day and we will help your team develop awareness on how to be assertive. Afterward, your group can decide to build a work environment where assertiveness is encouraged.
Related Course: Assertive Communication Workshop
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I’ll try to be assertive now sir Ed. thanks for the post…well done.