Exercise 18

Follow the Assertive Refusal Steps and describe your example based on your work or private life experiences.

Assertiveness requires making sure that what you think and feel is important. It is the ability to discard false beliefs about yourself and believe in your own abilities. Assertiveness is also the ability to firmly but gently define one's own territory, while respecting the territory of others. Assertive behaviour gives you a sense of power and self-confidence. Try to present your point of view briefly, to the point, without entering into unnecessary discussions. Under no circumstances should you allow verbal scuffles or regret into submission. It is also important to be able to constructively criticize others without offending or deprecating them. When someone behaves inappropriately towards you, tell them how you feel and why, for example, "I'm sorry because you didn't keep my word."