Being Assertive represents an idea to communicate openly, gently, and humbly with others; it depicts a picture of healthy communication between two or more people. When an individual learns how to handle an aggressive style during the conversation, he will be self-assured and confident, which will make it easier for him to achieve command in an assertive communication style. Assertiveness is a crucial learning skill and a better way of communication. People who are high in confidence don’t avoid protecting their perspectives or objectives or attempting to impact others to see their side.
Why Is It Important?
An assertive person imparts their desires and sets limits, however, he doesn’t set expectations of others or lash out if demands are not met. The capacity to be self-assured permits somebody to make suggestions to others and support themselves or others in a non-aggressive manner. It can likewise shield them from menaces and other social predators.
From a subjective point of view, decisive individuals experience less on-edge musings, in any event, when under pressure. From a social stance, confident individuals are firm without being discourteous. They respond to positive and negative feelings without getting forceful or falling back on detachment.
What are a few advantages of being assertive?
Being assertive offers a few advantages, extending from less uneasiness and wretchedness to a more noteworthy feeling of office and better connections. Assertiveness is regularly connected with higher confidence and certainty. It can also help boost your self-esteem and earn others’ respect. This can help with stress management, especially if you tend to take on too many responsibilities because you have a hard time saying no.
Risks of not being assertive
People who can’t stand up for themselves may encounter an effect on the ability to analyze, outrageous lack of involvement, weakness, nervousness, or even low confidence. They might be dealt with like enthusiastic mats whose needs consistently come next. In outrageous cases, they may dismiss what they need and need throughout everyday life.
Assertive vs. passive behavior
If your style is passive, you may seem to be shy or overly easygoing. You may routinely say things such as “I’ll just go with whatever the group decides.” You tend to avoid conflict. Why is that a problem? Because the message you’re sending is that your thoughts and feelings aren’t as important as those of other people. In essence, when you’re too passive, you give others the license to disregard your wants and needs.
The internal conflict that can be created by passive behavior can lead to stress, resentment, seething anger, feelings of victimization, and a desire to exact revenge.
Assertive vs. aggressive behavior
Now consider the flip side. If your style is aggressive, you may come across as a bully who disregards the needs, feelings, and opinions of others. You may appear self-righteous or superior. Very aggressive people humiliate and intimidate others and may even be physically threatening.
You may think that being aggressive gets you what you want. However, it comes at a cost. Aggression undercuts trust and mutual respect. Others may come to resent you, leading them to avoid or oppose you.
Assertive vs. passive-aggressive behavior
Now consider passive-aggressive behavior. If you communicate in a passive-aggressive manner, you may say yes when you want to say no. You may be sarcastic or complain about others behind their backs. Rather than confront an issue directly, you may show your anger and feelings through your actions or negative attitude. You may have developed a passive-aggressive style because you’re uncomfortable being direct about your needs and feelings.
Over time, passive-aggressive behavior damages relationships and undercuts mutual respect, which makes it difficult for you to get your goals and needs met.
Here are some tips to help you become more assertive:
- Assess your style. Do you voice your opinions or remain silent? Do you say yes to additional work even when your plate is full? Are you quick to judge or blame? Do people seem to dread or fear talking to you? Understand your style before you begin making changes.
- Use ‘I’ statements. Using “I” statements lets others know what you’re thinking or feeling without sounding accusatory. For instance, say, “I disagree,” rather than, “You’re wrong.” If you have a request, say, “I would like you to help with this” rather than, “You need to do this.” Keep your requests simple and specific.
- Practice saying no. If you have a hard time turning down requests, try saying, “No, I can’t do that now.” Don’t hesitate — be direct. If an explanation is appropriate, keep it brief.
- Rehearse what you want to say. If it’s challenging to say what you want or think, practice the general scenarios you encounter. Say what you want to say out loud. It may help to write it out first, too, so you can practice from a script. Consider role-playing with a friend or colleague and ask for clear feedback.
- Use body language. Communication isn’t just verbal. Act confident even if you aren’t feeling it. Keep an upright posture, but lean forward a bit. Make regular eye contact. Maintain a neutral or positive facial expression. Don’t cross your arms or legs. Practice assertive body language in front of a mirror or with a friend or colleague.
- Keep emotions in check. Conflict is hard for most people. Maybe you get angry or frustrated, or maybe you feel like crying. Although these feelings are normal, they can get in the way of resolving conflict. If you feel too emotional going into a situation, wait a bit if possible. Then work on remaining calm. Breathe slowly. Keep your voice even and firm.
- Start small. First, practice your new skills in situations that are low-risk. For instance, try out your assertiveness on a partner or friend before tackling a difficult situation at work. Evaluate yourself afterward and tweak your approach as necessary.
When people escape an addiction, they open up a world of possibilities. The path of recovery can take people on a wonderful journey, but they will be required to put in a great deal of effort if they are going to get the best out of life. Most addicts suffer from low self-esteem, so they may need to develop their assertiveness. This is a skill that can be developed, hence we at PRC Rehabilitation Center focus on psycho-educating our clients on being assertive and learning effective communication skills.
For further queries kindly visit PRC Clifton Karachi or call us at 0341-1959599.