Being assertive is a skill that can be learnt. As leaders we become respected in being open to get our team to do certain tasks. We support that journey and understanding how assertiveness is being accountable to your team and more importantly building relationships.

There are some barriers to assertiveness that include cultural upbringing, environment, and personality types. For many cultures for example Asian or Pacific cultures frown upon being too assertive that some may feel borders on being aggressive or bullying. Situations may escalate problems arise within the organisation and create silos and defensive behaviours.

As a leader of any organisation is to understand the difference of being assertive to being passive or aggressive. Whatever your type of communication being assertive is being accountable and responsible for your team in building confidence, respect and high performance.

Here are 9 ways to communicating assertively.

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1. Know your goal

2. Frame your talk for example start with I statements. I feel, I think, I need, I want...

3. Be confident in your delivery

4. Practise what you will say

5. Be aware of your body language for example arms folded means being aggressive or defensive for some cultures.

6. Be empathetic

7. Be flexible

8. Maintain relationships

9. Mana enhancing

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