The importance of assertiveness in the workplace is that it can help you find practical and realistic solutions to problems that arise. However, there are so many challenges ahead, particularly when facing managers, that am sure any solution devised can only be tested in the real world. In this article we will explore five key ways that assertiveness impacts your performance in work.
Any personality test or exercise that focuses on assertiveness will focus heavily on the non-assertive characteristics. The reason for this is simple – if you want to be successful at getting your point across or communicating your message, you need to be non-aggressively aggressive and willing to be aggressive when necessary. It’s a basic requirement of success.
It’s easy to assume that assertive behavior is just good old-fashioned hard work and without it, we’re doomed to failure. This, however, is not the case. If you want to communicate your ideas or make a point, there is nothing more effective than using assertive behavior. If you take the idea of being aggressive as an abstract and apply it directly to your situation, you will find that you have much more control over the outcome.
When you are under pressure, it can be easy to revert back to your feelings of self-doubt and anxiety. If you are not careful you can get caught in a vicious cycle whereby your feelings of anxiety and doubt increase and so does your sense of self-defence. Your actions then tend to follow your feelings rather than your thoughts. Ultimately, when your manager starts talking about putting people under pressure, you automatically start to feel pressured too! It doesn’t have to be this way though. If you understand the importance of assertiveness and how it can improve your performance in a situation, you can work to your advantage by adopting assertive behaviour.
How can assertiveness help you? When applied correctly, assertiveness can give you a real competitive edge. There is one aspect to assertiveness which is particularly relevant for those involved with leadership – aggression. Leadership is not simply about providing order and discipline. Whilst these are important aspects, aggression is also crucial if you are to be effective at leadership.
The best leaders are considered to be the ones who display confidence and assertiveness. If you are working in an environment where you feel undervalued and insecure, it is essential that you learn how to become more confident and assertive. There is no reason why you cannot achieve these goals and find solutions to your problems quickly and effectively.