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Assertiveness

by Chris Thomas

Recent studies have shown that industrial supervisors are working at less than 60 % of their potential. Basic management skills training is guaranteed to change all this and at such little cost

  Introduction  

It seems logical to say that if you cannot manage yourself correctly then it is going to be extremely hard to manage others. The way that you handle yourself is an example to those around you - people need to respect you. Do not forget that it is not enough to be a nice person, respect is totally different. 

The first important issue is for you to feel good about yourself – to feel like a winner and not a loser 

What Makes a Winner or Loser?  

Some people find it easy to control their lives and to realize their ambitions, while others seem doomed to failure. Everyone can be a life winner but not everyone can release his or her potential. Most supervisors were winners otherwise they would not have been selected for such important roles. 

However, too many supervisors have worked too long in a hostile environment without adequate support. This is the breeding ground of what is called the loss syndrome, which can creep up on all of us. Even the most confident people will sometimes start to think that "it's" their fault even when it's obviously not.

The truth is that we create our own fears and doubts. We seem to have a tape running in our head, which keeps repeating: 

It's too late   It can't be changed   You can't do it   You will fail

You'll never understand   You're wasting your time   You're too old   Don't try

 

So our first step in improving ourselves is not just to turn off the tape but to throw it away and never listen to it again. 

Don't underestimate your importance  

We said early that you are a winner because you had been selected to be a manager or you have the ambition to become one. The problem is that many supervisors have forgotten or never realized just how important their roles are. Let's do a couple of simple exercises to demonstrate the importance of managers. 

Exercise 1 - Note down the number of people that report to you   Every action you take has a potential effect on these people and their family's lives.  You can contribute to their happiness or increase their stress levels   You can affect their income through overtime and rises   You can lose them their jobs

 

Exercise 2 - Divide your company's turnover by the number of supervisors in the organization   This is a crude estimate of the amount of money that you are responsible for. Now add the cost of the facilities, equipment and other company property that you are responsible for.    However you look at it we are talking about a lot of money.

 

 

Got the point!! You have immense power over other people and large amounts of money!

 

What are passive, aggressive and assertive behaviors? 

It has been said that behavior styles range from very aggressive to very passive. The following descriptions describe the extremes. Fortunately, the vast majority of people lie between the extremes, but I am sure that we can all recognize somebody that seems to be living on the edges.  

Aggressive behavior  

Unfortunately, people wrongly confuse assertiveness with aggression. Aggressive behavior is forcing others to agree to your view, to manipulate, to punish and blame others. Assertiveness is the exact opposite.

Don't confuse anger with aggression as even the most passive of people can get angry from time to time.  

Passive behavior 

Being passive is not showing your true feelings, always trying to please, readily accepting the blame and being anxious. 

Assertive behavior 

Assertiveness is being honest, open, direct and saying what you want and expect (without being rude). At the same time, assertiveness means respecting others and their rights. 

Learning to be assertive 

Some people are wary of behavioral changes such as assertiveness as they are afraid of changing their personality and identity. 

Assertive behavior has been described as a management tool, one that can be stored away when not required. It should not be over used to the extent that it affects your general behavior. 

Is learning to be assertive worth the effort? Well, you will not know unless you try it.

Chris Thomas is the author of the Managers Toolbox training material located at www.managers-toolbox.com and runs the very successful Basic Management Course for new leaders and supervisors. You can contact Chris@managers-toolbox.com

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©copyright 2001- 2004 Chris Thomas

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