How to be more assertive in the workplace

Growing up, classmates often told me to be less bossy. As a result, I tend to hold my tongue till I can’t anymore, and as a result, I tend to explode instead then suggest. If I do not think, I also tend to boss rather than persuade.

Assertiveness is something that I have always struggled with, and I know I am not alone in that. Reaching that happy medium can be difficult for many of us. There are several reasons why this is the case.

• People don’t like it when we tell them what to do
• There are times you must tell people what to do
• You can listen and understand people without agreeing with them

How to be more assertive:

• Attitude
• Language
• Tone

Attitude

We need to be confident in what we are saying. We need to say it concisely that leaves no room for guessing, and we need to say it is a firm but pleasant tone of voice. If we don’t feel we have the authority to tell someone what to do, we will struggle to be assertive.

Language

The words that we use have to be positive without padding. Too often, we couch what we say with words to soften the message. When we prevaricate and hedge our statement, it does not work the way we want it. Instead, we come off as someone whom they can push around.