How to be assertive
Assertiveness is being self-assured and confident without being aggressive or passive. It’s important to be both a self-advocate and to be assertive.
Assertiveness is being self-assured and confident without being aggressive or passive. Being assertive means getting your point of view across in a respectful way.
Passive communication: “I guess you can keep doing that even though I don’t like it.”
Assertive communication: “Please stop doing that, I don’t like it.”
Aggressive communication: “If you don’t stop doing that I’m going to hurt you.”
Assertiveness and advocacy are similar; they’re both about standing up for yourself. The difference is advocacy is about your actions, whereas assertiveness is about your communication style.
It’s important to be both a self-advocate and to be assertive.