Coping with Stress

Coping with Stress - Workplace Techniques

Being Assertive

 Being assertive involves standing up for ones personal rights and
expressing ones thoughts, feelings and beliefs directly, honestly and spontaneously in ways
that do not infringe the rights of others. Assertive behavior on the part of managing individuals mean

• Starting, changing, or ending conversations
• Sharing feelings, opinions, and experiences with others
• Making requests and asking for favors
• Refusing others’ requests if they are too demanding
• Questioning rules or traditions that don’t make sense or don’t seem fair
• Addressing problems or things that bother you
• Being firm so that your rights are respected
• Expressing positive emotions
• Expressing negative emotions

If we want to be assertive but are concerned that others may find them too
aggressive, here are some recommendations for turning aggressive behavior into assertive
behavior.

• Give others a chance to speak
• Establish eye-contact with the other person
• Respect other’s opinions
• Use appopriate body language
• Talk in a firm, steady voice
• Use assertive and not aggressive language
• Be clear, concise and to the point