What is assertive communication? 4 essential tips for development

Assertive communication is a style of communication in which a person expresses their thoughts, feelings, desires and needs in a clear, direct and respectful way, without being aggressive, passive or manipulative.

It is important not to confuse assertiveness with aggressiveness, these two terms are far from meaning the same thing.

This type of communication is ideal in all types of relationships and in all areas of life.

Understand more about what assertive communication is

Assertive communication is the ability of an individual to express themselves in a clear, direct and understandable way. And that includes communicating your thoughts, feelings and opinions.

And it is precisely this type of soft skill What companies are looking for nowadays is a person who can communicate clearly with their leaders and other teammates.

If this professional is the leader of a team or team, this type of communication is even better.

Assertive communication is particularly valuable for resolving conflicts constructively, improving interpersonal relationships, create a healthy work environment and promote mutual understanding.

It avoids the hostility and passivity that can arise in other forms of communication and helps to establish healthier and more productive relationships.

How to develop this type of communication?

To be able to develop assertive communication, you need to practice this practice every day.

And it's very easy to forget some good practices for developing this type of communication, especially in the rush of everyday life.

1 – Practice active listening

Active listening is a communication skill that involves paying careful, respectful, and intentional attention to what another person is saying. 

It is a communication technique that demonstrates genuine interest in the interlocutor and aims to deepen mutual understanding during a conversation.

So when you are really paying attention to a conversation with another person or in a meeting, for example, it is more difficult for noise to be detected in the communication.

2 – Be objective

Objectivity is an important point of assertiveness, so when speaking, get straight to the point.

Avoid beating around the bush and be clear when expressing your ideas, feelings and needs. Use direct and concise language.

3 – Have empathy

But just because you need to be clear, direct and objective doesn't mean you need to be passive aggressive or show aggression in your speeches.

It's actually very different from that, a characteristic of this type of communication is empathy.

So put yourself in the other person's shoes and try to evaluate situations from the perspective of others, show empathy towards others' feelings and build stronger relationships.

4 – Exercise Constructive Feedback

When necessary, provide feedback in a constructive and respectful manner. This is particularly important in the workplace.

And during these feedbacks, if it makes sense for the situation, avoid suppressing or manipulating feelings. So don't reject or suppress your own feelings. Also avoid using communication to manipulate others.