A key skill in the professional world, assertiveness enables people to express their opinions, emotions and needs clearly and respectfully.
Whether you are an HR Director, Training Director, General Manager or Retail Director, if you want to develop and encourage assertiveness within your company to improve communication and entrepreneurship, this article explains the steps to take.
On the agenda :
- What is assertiveness?
- The benefits of assertiveness
- Developing assertiveness at work
- Developing assertiveness within the company
What is assertiveness?
Definition of assertiveness
Before even answering the simple question “What is assertiveness?”, let’s look at the origins of the term 🤔
Where does the word assertiveness come from? It actually comes from the English verb “to assert” meaning “to affirm” or “to assert oneself” 🙋♀️
The original concept was named “assertiveness” which in French gives “affirmation de soi” which is the synonym for assertiveness, when Google Translate translates it as assurance.
It is based on a balance, established by the New York psychologist Andrew Salter, between assertiveness and respect for others, without adopting a passive or aggressive behaviour.
What is an assertive attitude?
An assertive attitude differs from passive and aggressive behaviour in the way one expresses one’s ideas and emotions 🎭
Passive behaviour involves avoiding conflict by submitting to others, which can lead to frustration and resentment.
Conversely, aggressive behaviour is characterised by over-assertion of one’s needs at the expense of others, causing tension and discomfort in interpersonal relationships.
How to be assertive in the workplace?
Assertiveness allows us to avoid these pitfalls by adopting respectful and open communication, which is conducive to conflict resolution and the establishment of healthy and harmonious relationships 🌈
Essential element of personal and professional development
Assertiveness should be seen as a key element of personal and professional development. As such, it promotes a better understanding of oneself and one’s emotions, as well as effective communication with others.
By developing assertiveness, one gains self-confidence, credibility and influence.
This can contribute to a successful career and a personally fulfilling life.
The benefits of assertiveness
Strengthen your professional impact
Assertiveness allows you to improve your professional impact by reinforcing your credibility and establishing a climate of trust with your colleagues 🤗
It promotes clear and open communication, avoiding misunderstandings and unnecessary conflict 👎
Assertive leaders are perceived as being more competent and able to make informed decisions.
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Improve communication and interpersonal relations
Assertive communication facilitates exchanges between individuals by promoting listening, respect and mutual understanding.
It allows people to better understand the needs and expectations of others, while asserting their own in an appropriate manner.
Interpersonal relationships are thus strengthened, with a climate of cooperation and mutual support 🙏
Asserting yourself without crushing
What is an assertive person? By developing one’s assertiveness, one learns to be assertive while respecting the opinions and emotions of others.
This helps to avoid being dominated by overbearing people or feeling guilty when expressing one’s own needs.
In this way, assertiveness contributes to personal development and the building of a strong self-esteem.
Developing assertiveness at work
Understanding and managing emotions
Understanding and managing your emotions is crucial to being assertive 😥
It is important that you and your staff take the time to identify what you are feeling and why, in order to find healthy ways to express and manage these emotions.
Practicing meditation or mindfulness can help develop this skill.
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Clearly expressing needs and limitations
One of the keys to assertive behaviour is to be able to clearly express your needs and limits. How to communicate with assertiveness? 👀
Requests should be formulated in a precise and respectful way, avoiding vague or passive expressions.
Note that it is essential to express one’s feelings and expectations, without accusing or blaming others.
Handling conflict constructively
Assertiveness enables us to manage conflicts constructively, seeking win-win solutions for all parties involved 🎯
It aims to adopt an attitude of active listening and mutual understanding, avoiding being carried away by anger or frustration.
Therefore, assertiveness is also about being able to compromise and negotiate to find common ground that respects everyone’s needs.
Be assertive in decision making and delegation
An assertive leader is able to make firm and informed decisions, taking into account the needs and expectations of other team members.
It also knows how to delegate tasks effectively, clearly communicating responsibilities and expectations 🎤
To develop this skill, one must practice team decision-making and encourage the active participation of all members in the process.
It also requires learning to let go and trusting one’s staff to accomplish the tasks assigned to them.
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Developing assertiveness within the company
Cultivating a culture of assertiveness
Promoting a culture that values and encourages the expression of needs and emotions in a respectful way is essential to developing assertiveness within the organisation 🌸
Leaders should lead by example by adopting assertive communication and recognising everyone’s contribution.
Assertiveness also implies a safe working environment, where everyone feels free to express their ideas without fear of judgement or reprisal.
Encourage and value assertive behaviour of employees
Managers should encourage and value the assertive behaviour of their employees, highlighting successes and recognising efforts to assert themselves in a respectful manner.
They can, for example, publicly congratulate an employee who has been able to express his or her needs clearly or resolve a conflict in a constructive manner 💪
Organise training to develop the assertiveness of teams
In order to help employees strengthen their assertiveness, companies can set up trainings and workshops focusing on assertive communication, emotional management and conflict resolution.
These training sessions, delivered by experts in the field, can be tailored to the needs of each team 🎓
These trainings offer participants the opportunity to learn assertive techniques and put them into practice in a safe and caring environment.
Participants will also be able to exchange experiences, share tips and receive constructive feedback from their peers and trainers.
By investing in developing the assertiveness of their employees, companies contribute to a more harmonious and productive work environment, where communication is effective, conflicts are managed constructively and interpersonal relationships are strengthened.
Find out more about texageres training catalogues to develop assertiveness in your company.
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Developing assertiveness within the organisation can improve communication, strengthen interpersonal relationships and increase professional impact.
By understanding assertiveness, recognising its benefits and applying the tips and techniques presented in this article, directors and managers can foster a culture of assertiveness within their organisation.
In doing so, they contribute to the development of their teams, the effective resolution of conflict and the overall success of their organisation.
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Has this article convinced you of the value of assertiveness? Contact texageres to organise an assertiveness training course in your company.
