Executive Education: Assertiveness

currently listening to "remember the name" by Fort Minor
this is a small research I have worked recently. DC is fun and NYC is the next.

Summary:

Being assertive means that one can respect the rights of other people to express their ideas, feelings and needs, and meanwhile one can recognize and state his/her side of the issues rather defend or bully himself/herself. Assertiveness can be learned through effective communication approaches.

Ideas of Assertiveness:

·        There are three steps that can help become more assertive

o   Step1: listen carefully to what others said and show them that you understand

o   Step 2: state how you truly feel

o   Step 3: say what you want to happen

·        A better way to say No

o   I would prefer not to… / I would rather…/I am not willing to…

·        Use “I” messages structure that includes “I feel…”  “…when…” “I want…”

o   I feel sad when you change the plan at the last minute. I want you to let me know in advance next time.

·        Being assertive in business setting  (with clients)

o   remember to gather information from the clients

o   practice what you will be talking in the meeting

o   cope with criticism in a rational manner

Assertive Techniques:

·        Broken Record – Be persistent and keep saying what you want over and over again without getting angry, irritated, or loud. Stick to your point.

·        Free Information – Learn to listen to the other person and follow-up on free information people offer about themselves. This free information gives you something to talk about.

·        Self-Disclosure – Assertively disclose information about yourself - how you think, feel, and react to the other person's information. This gives the other person information about you.

·        Fogging – An assertive coping skill is dealing with criticism. Do not deny any criticism and do not counter-attack with criticism of your own.

·        Agree with the truth – Find a statement in the criticism that is truthful and agree with that statement.

·        Agree with the odds – Agree with any possible truth in the critical statement.

·        Agree in principle – Agree with the general truth in a logical statement such as, "That makes sense."

·        Negative Assertion – Assertively accepting those things that are negative about yourself. Coping with your errors.

·        Workable Compromise – When your self-respect is not in question offer a workable compromise.