The Difference Between Being Assertive And Being Aggressive

Communicating in an assertive way is a core skill that many people lack. By being assertive, you can stand up for yourself and communicate your point of view without disrespecting others.

It is an effective and diplomatic communication style that is based on mutual respect. By standing up for yourself in a calm and honest manner, you not only respect others but also force them to respect you and the things that matter to you.

Past research has shown that people who are assertive experience less anxiety. When you are freely able to express your opinions and needs, there is less opportunity for frustration to build and create anxiety.

However, the main question that arises here is how can you learn to be more assertive? Many people confuse being assertive with being aggressive about their needs. But, there is a fine line between the two that has to be understood.

At Mediation Services, we have several courses that can help you become a better version of yourself. One of them is to help you become more assertive. Our team of experts work together to help you find a balance between passive and aggressive communication.

Objectives Of The Course

Participants attending this workshop will have the opportunity to:

• Increase their understanding of assertiveness
• Develop a greater understanding of their own individual patterns; passivity, assertiveness, or aggression
• Examine blocks to assertiveness
• Increase their ability to constructively confront others
• Apply assertive communication skills
• Learn and practice tactics for “turning up the heat”
• Identify their own body language and recognize the effect of body language on communication
• Examine barriers to saying “No,” and develop strategies for setting boundaries

What Is Assertive Communication?

Being assertive means exercising the ability to express what is important to you. If you are assertive, you will be able to express your feelings while communicating and behaving in a way which respects and allows the same for the other person.

Individuals who are unable to communicate in an assertive way are at a risk of facing a wide array of potential problems, including anxiety, depression, ill health, increased stress, lack of job-related success and difficulties in relationships.

Some of the main characteristics of assertive behaviour include:

• A collaborative flexible style
• Prioritizing understanding of what is important to both parties.
• Respect the rights of others
• Works to meet the needs of both parties
• Confident, satisfied and optimistic
• Articulates decisions and expressive

Hence, being assertive gives you the best chance of delivering your message while keeping the other party’s interests in mind.

Assertive Behaviour As Compared To Passive Behaviour

If you are passive, your behaviour will come across as extremely shy or overly easy going. While some consider ‘easy going’ a good trait, it is not always the best way to go about things. It is only a matter of time before people in your workplace and in your friends circle will start taking you for granted.

You might routinely find yourself saying that you are good with anything the group decides. This is a typical trait that shows you are trying to avoid conflict. This sounds like a good thing right? Well it’s not. In an attempt to avoid conflict, you might come across as gullible.

On the contrary, if you adopt assertive behaviour you can help others and respect their choice without coming across as someone who is gullible and does not have an opinion.

Assertive Behaviour Compared To Aggressive Behaviour

Sometimes, in an attempt to be more assertive, many individuals end up coming across as aggressive. People who adopt this style come across as bullies who disregard the needs, feelings and opinions of others.

If you are aggressive about your needs, opinions and thoughts you might portray that you feel self-righteous or superior.

Hence, there is a need to find the right balance between being too aggressive and too gullible. That is exactly what our webinar about assertive communication aims to teach you.

About Us

Mediation Services in Winnipeg offers training programs to help you learn mediation and leadership skills. We conduct online zoom and asynchronous webinars for different issues. Such modules will help you to improve your communication and solve family, workplace, and personal conflicts. To check out our training courses,visit this link here or contact us for further assistance.