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Develop Your Assertiveness

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Develop Your Assertiveness

Kogan Page,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Audio & text

What's inside?

Being assertive is not just a way of acting, it is a way of life. Boost your self-image. Learn to advocate for yourself.

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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Well Structured
  • For Beginners

Recommendation

Would you benefit in your business or in your social life if you became a better advocate for yourself? Unless you are already quite capable of asserting yourself, the answer is probably yes. The problem is that assertiveness training has a bad reputation, as author Sue Bishop acknowledges. In this short, easy book, she suggests ways that individuals can change their behavior to become more confident. You can learn at your own pace, using the book’s self-tests, exercises and comments. Bishop’s handbook does not contain very much that is new, but it is a good tool for people who would like to teach themselves the basics. getAbstract recommends this book to those who want to find out how to persuade others and stick up for themselves. If you’re a manager mired in meekness, here’s your ticket to the limelight.

Summary

Make Your Point

Becoming more assertive and, thus, more able to speak up for yourself confidently, brings many benefits. Assertive people have a greater sense of their own worth. They have better communication skills, so they express themselves well. They represent themselves and others with authenticity. To become more assertive, cultivate the right self-image, attitude, body language, voice and facial expressions. All these are part of the equation if you want to get your point across consistently and be your own best advocate.

Infants are born with two types of behavior: assertive and passive. Passivity is a more natural human response; becoming aggressive tends to be a learned behavior. Toddlers learn to express their likes and dislikes as part of their behavioral maturation. This involves learning to say "no." Small children often become emotional or have tantrums if they do not get what they want. They learn how to act, either passively or assertively, by receiving praise and rewards for the "right" behavior.

How people are socialized and how other people condition them shapes the way they conduct themselves. For instance, it’s not considered "ladylike...

About the Author

Sue Bishop is a trainer and consultant, and the author of several training sourcebooks.

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