Assertive communication is an invaluable skill that can help you build strong relationships and achieve balance in your life. It is the ability to express yourself confidently, clearly, and politely when sharing your thoughts, feelings, and opinions with others. It’s different from passive communication (in which you do not share your thoughts or feelings) and aggressive communication (in which you take a dominating stance). If you’re looking for ways to strengthen your relationships, reduce conflict, and promote balance in your life, then developing assertive communication skills should be high on your list of priorities.
Understand Your Rights
Assertive communication begins with understanding your rights and realizing that they are just as important as the rights of others. This means learning to communicate confidently without being aggressive or apologetic. It’s important to remember that everyone has the right to:
- Express their thoughts and feelings
- Ask for what they need
- Say “no” without feeling guilty
- Make mistakes without feeling ashamed
- Change their mind
- Set boundaries
- Take responsibility for their actions
Practice Active Listening
Active listening is a key component of assertive communication. When someone is speaking to you, focus on what they are saying instead of formulating a response or an argument in your head. Make sure you understand them by asking questions if necessary. Show that you are paying attention by making eye contact, nodding occasionally, and repeating back what they said so they know you understand them. By actively listening to what others have to say, it shows that you respect them enough to give them your undivided attention.
Learn to Respectfully Say “No”
When faced with excessive requests from other people or extenuating circumstances beyond our control, it can be difficult to stand up for ourselves and say “no” when we need to. It’s important to remember that saying “no” isn’t rude if done respectfully—it’s self-preservation! Developing assertive communication skills will help you learn how to politely decline requests that would negatively impact your wellbeing or overburden your schedule without feeling guilty about it afterwards.
Keep Working at It
Assertive communication is an essential tool for strengthening relationships while promoting balance in life. It enables us to express ourselves confidently while respecting the rights of others—and even more importantly—our own rights too! With practice comes progress so don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t come naturally at first—just keep trying! If you want better relationships with family members, friends, co-workers, etc., make it a priority this year to develop your assertive communication skills! You won’t regret it!