Tips to improve your assertive communication skill

What is assertive communication?

Assertive communication means being open about one’s needs and expectations. It is the ability to directly and honestly communicate the emotions. It aims for meeting your needs and the other person’s needs and both of you end up being happy. To indulge in assertive communication requires a lot of self-control. But there are some easy and smart ways to improve your assertive communication skills.

How to improve?

· Understand what you want

Assertive communication aims to meet your needs and to do that you must first understand what you want. When we are not sure about what we want, we would be controlled by others needs but when we know what we need we can get the starting point to evaluate the situations and find ways to communicate our needs.

· Learn to say no

To adopt assertive behaviour, you need to understand that you cannot please everyone and you cannot fulfil everyone’s needs. So learn to say no. You must know your values, what you can tolerate and what you cannot. Say No when something is unacceptable. Rejecting things you can’t do and then explaining the reasons is the best way to be assertive.

· Keep a check on your tone

You must not show hesitation or harshness through your voice. Here, you need lots of self-control. You must keep your voice calm and relaxed when you are trying to communicate. Avoid raising your voice, keep it friendly and calm.

· Pay attention to nonverbal communication

Pay attention to your non verbal communication. Non verbal include eye contact, body language, posture, facial expression etc. Your nonverbal communication shouldn’t be aggressive or passive. It should be somewhere in between.

Your body language and eye contact helps the other person know your level of interest. If you maintain eye contact, you seem more invested in communication.