Being assertive is all about being able to express yourself with confidence, so that you don't have to resort to being passive, aggressive or manipulative. By developing your assertiveness and becoming aware of your strengths and weaknesses, you can learn how best to modify your behaviour in social and business interactions, thus improving your career prospects and enhancing your social life.
Develop Your Assertiveness offers simple techniques to enable you to become more assertive. Packed with examples and exercises, it is a self-help guide covering topics such as:
⚫ the importance of choice of behaviour;
⚫ tension control;
⚫ self-awareness and self-esteem;
⚫ relationships;
⚫ making and refusing requests;
⚫ dealing with problem people;
⚫ tricky situations.
Simply reading Develop Your Assertiveness will not make you more assertive, but if you work through the exercises and activities it includes, practising face-to-face dialogue with friends, colleagues or a group, you will be able to measure your progress and reach your goal.
Sue Bishop is a trainer and consultant. She is the author of several training sourcebooks, also published by Kogan Page.