Assertiveness Exercise: The Importance of Assertiveness

As with most adult relationship skills, assertiveness most be learned and practiced over a period of time before it begins to feel natural and normal. It feels safer and easier to relapse into aggressive anger or passive withdrawal – both are childhood coping mechanisms that we understand – than to firmly but politely stand our ground with no way to know what will happen next. In our Assertiveness Training Workshops, we put you through an entire regimen of assertiveness exercises to that you can practice and hone your assertiveness skills in real time, real life situations. Practice makes perfect and, in this case, it might also help you to grow into the adult you always wanted to be.

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When you make a presentation, whether to one person when you attend networking events or to 100 people in a formal setting, project competence and authority regardless of your position. You can move ahead in your career or move your business to the next level by doing so.

First impressions are crucial. Often, the first impression you make is when you shake someone’s hand in greeting. Your handshake communicates critical information. A firm, dry, warm handshake conveys power and confidence regardless of gender. Women, however, need to be especially conscious about and proficient with The Handshake as the process and technique is not taught to us at an early age.

Dad (my father) taught me to stand up straight and look ‘em in the eyes. A surprising number of professionals I meet slouch or do not maintain eye contact when we speak. The fine business suit and well-groomed body make a good initial impression. But erect posture and direct eye contact make a long-lasting impression that communicates confidence and assertiveness. Try maintaining eye contact with one person for at least five seconds whether you are on stage or involved in a one-on-one conversation at a networking event.

Meetings typically involve food and drink of some sort. Arrange your food and drink so that your right hand is free for shaking hands and distributing business cards. Wear your nametag on your right, just below your shoulder and high above your breast line. When you reach out to shake hands the other person sees your name clearly and you do not feel like they are staring at anything at which they should not be staring.

Carry small breath mints. Discretely place one in your mouth after you finish a formal presentation in case you have to meet with individuals immediately after your presentation. Put together and practice a 30-second “elevator speech” that explains who you are, what you do, and how to contact you. An elevator speech is a presentation you can complete in the time it takes to ride an elevator with a person with whom you want to conduct business.

The words you use are important to the impression you make. Use power words like can and do and will. Avoid ending sentences with question marks and saying, “I’m new”, “maybe”, and “I think”.

These power presentation techniques convey similar messages whether you are networking or making a formal presentation. When you think you do not have time or cannot afford to practice or improve your communication and presentation skills, ask yourself if you can afford not to grow your business or your career. While soft skills, which are how these skills are typically categorized, seem secondary to financial and business marketing skills, the intangible messages you communicate have very tangible effects on your bottom line if you do not convey them with confidence and proficiency.

By Sylvia Henderson
Portland

Asssertiveness Skills - Convey Confidence and Power

Assertiveness Exercise Quote
Assertiveness is not what you do, it's who you are!
Cal Le Mon

Suggested Reading:

Assertiveness Skills for Professionals in Health Care
by Wendy Leebov

Training Solutions - Developing Your Assertiveness Skills (Paper Only)
by Pfeiffer

Assertiveness Skills Indicator Takeaway Training Series
by Eve Ash and Peter Quarry

The Assertiveness Skills Pack
by Joanna Gutmann

Assertiveness Skills Training: A Sourcebook of Activities
by Sue Bishop

Developing Assertiveness Skills
by Chrissie Hawkes-Whitehead

Videotape analogue assessment of social skills: The measurement of assertiveness
by Dan Herrick Pollock

You're On...Teaching Assertiveness and Communication Skills
by Honey Loring

Negotiating and Assertiveness Student Skills Masters
by Drew, Bingham

Develop Your Assertiveness (Better Management Skills Series)
by Sue Bishop