TRAITS OF ASSERTIVE STYLE OF COMMUNICATION

TRAITS OF ASSERTIVE STYLE OF COMMUNICATION

In order to acquire a high level of assertive behaviour, the individuals have to imbibe certain traits as below:

(1) High level of listening skills

The human mind has one limitation – it can do one thing at a time. However, it can change to another idea or thought in a flash and sometimes, persons think that they can do many things at the same time. When one is speaking, one cannot be listening. A good listening requires the ability to remain silent for long periods. Besides when two persons are interacting, silence is very awkward. If one person remains silent for reasonable length of time, the other person will fill the vacuum with his voice; he is able to listen to the other person completely.

(2) Initiative to make new contacts

This increases persons‟ area of influence as he is able to listen and get opinions of wider range of people who can share their experience or viewpoint.

(3) Quick to respond

This is the ability to respond to a large number of contacts in short time. It directly measures ones‟ reaction time. „Response is everyone‟s response-ability‟. Some persons are, by nature, more sensitive to others needs and wants while others take time to respond. By speeding up own responses, persons can speed ahead of their competitors.

(4) Perseverance with issues

It is the ability of an individual to keep going back to the same persons and raising issues that have been rejected or where there has been little enthusiasm. The approach is that if one feels strongly about issues that have not invoked the right response, it is time to re-examine critically about the way it was packaged and parceled last time and make necessary changes to make it more exciting and interesting on the one hand and to compromise, persuade and bring out newer possibilities on the other.

(5) Maintaining flexibility

Rigid stand leads to resistance. It is always better to remain flexible and open as that helps one discover patterns that other finds easy to understand. It also encourages them to talk freely and openly. This openness in dialogues invariably leads to solutions that are more rewarding and fetching.