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Assertive Leadership Skills

A good leader can confidently and assertively state personal and group needs in an effective manner. However levels of assertiveness in leadership can some times be problem, leaders can easily become too assertive or not show enough assertiveness skills. See this article on levels of assertiveness in leaders. Knowing how and when to assert oneself can be difficult. Below are tips on assertive behavior.

Non-Assertive, Assertive and Aggressive Styles

• Non-assertive – failing to stand up for oneself or others, being ineffective in standing up for oneself that one’s rights are easily violated.
• Assertive – standing up for oneself in such a way that does not violate the basic rights of other people. Being direct, honest, and using an  appropriate expression of one ’s feelings and opinions.
• Aggressive – standing up for oneself in such a way that violates the rights of the others, using humiliation.

Good Assertiveness Skills Basics

• Say what you feel
• Maintain direct eye contact
• Maintain erect posture
• Speak clearly and audibly
• Do not whine or sound apologetic
• Use body language

• Basic –a sample expression of standing up for one’s beliefs, feelings or opinions.
• Empathic –expressing feelings or beliefs, while relating sensitively to another person.
• Escalating –beginning with a basic assertion and progressing your feelings and ideas if the individual is unresponsive to your expressions
• Confrontive –the other person ’s words conflict with you ideas and beliefs

Leadership and Assertiveness

• May be confused with aggressive behavior, however, assertion does not involve hurting the other person physically or emotionally.
• Aims at equalizing the balance of power, not “winning the battle” by putting down the other person or rendering her/him helpless.
• Allows you to express your legitimate wants, needs, feelings, and ideas and creates honest relationships with others.
• Gives other individuals a right to respond to your assertiveness with their own wants, needs, feelings, and ideas.
• May involve negotiating a new solution with another individual. Assertiveness does not imply I win/you lose.
• Concerns not only what you say but also how you say it.
• Includes asking directly for something you want.

Good Leadership resource

Leadership training course

Good Assertiveness resource

Assertiveness Training Course

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