Assertiveness in the Workplace

Assertiveness in the workplace
Your boss has given you a new project to work on and your deadline is difficult especially since you also have your domestic chores to accomplish, say you’re in the middle of school admission season and are occupied with filling out school forms and going for numerous school interviews. Now, realistically you can’t meet the deadline, but you don’t know how to communicate that to your boss.
You have a few choices here,
One, you can passively accept the project along with the deadline and hope for the best,
Two, alternatively you could have a slanging match with your boss, which undoubtedly will get you fired without reference,
Or three, you could communicate your issues with him directly, confidently and work on an alternate plan of action which can kill two birds with one stone, so to say!
Above are three different behavioral patterns- passive, aggressive and lastly, assertive.
Assertiveness is not about being right or wrong, it is about being able to put forth your point of view humbly, respectfully, confidently and honestly. Another tenet of assertive behavior is being responsive rather than reactive. You first have to be a good listener to understand the other person’s point of view and then respond to that rather than react to be assertive.
Assertive communication is an effective form of communication because when you are confident, are an active listener you are rational in your thinking and therefore in your communication.
Assertive people also make good leaders as more people will follow a person who does not make you follow by being rude and dominating, rather by being empathetic understanding, confident and decisive.
A basic formula to assertive communication is using the D E S C formula.
In our example above, if we use this formula and-
D- Describe our situation to our boss by saying I won’t be able to do this job, or at least meet the deadline while looking at alternate solutions.
E- Express your concerns, both you and your boss should express your concerns
S- Strategize- Be flexible and strategize on different options that you both have.
C- Conclude- Come to a final consensus, shake hands deal is done.
D E S C is how you say no to someone without actually saying No!
The journey to being assertive starts at self-awareness, how aware are you of your thoughts, emotions, and therefore, how do you respond. Only once you are self-aware will you be able to empathize and respond to people and situations and thereby be assertive in your communication.
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