9 Tips to Communicate More Assertively in Relationships
-
Loading... - Alvarez Ula
- 03 May 2023
- 69 Views
- 0 Like
- 0 Comment
Imagine you’re on a tight deadline for a specific project (e.g., a school assignment or work task) and have a full plate. One of your close friends asks you to do a last-minute favor for her. You want to say no so that you stay on track, but you also don’t want to come off as a bad friend. What would you do?
Perhaps you would yell at her for bothering you when you’re so busy. Or maybe you assertively tell her that you’d love to help, but you just can’t. Or maybe you say you’ll do it, even knowing you’ll be stressed and resentful. Each of these communication styles reflects our personality, but one of them is likely to help us feel the best in the longer term: the assertive style.
Assertive communication has been defined as “the ability to speak and interact in a manner that considers and respects the rights and opinions of others while also standing up for your rights, needs, and personal boundaries” (Pipas & Jaradat, 2010, pp. 649). It includes the following characteristics:
Direct eye contact: communicates that the person is not intimidated
Assertive posture: balance between looking too aggressive and too weak
The tone of voice: should be firm but not aggressive
Facial expression: important to not express anger or anxiety
Timing: the person must be socially aware to assertively communicate at the right time (e.g., asking for a raise in the middle of a business meeting is not great timing)
Clarity: using specific words that clearly communicate needs Read More…
