ASSERTIVENESS

Speaking and listening are considered as art. Those who excel in this art are loved and valued by all. Assertiveness is an important factor needed to excel in the art of speaking.
Assertiveness is a regular term usually used in social skills. Being assertive while communicating is essential and one of the strength of a better communicator. Being assertive means expressing yours or other people's view/rights in a calm way, without being aggressive. Assertive people are able to express themselves without upsetting others or themselves. Being aggressive shows lack of self-confidence and hence being assertive will help you in many ways.

Assertiveness means speaking up for your rights, your thoughts, and beliefs in an honest, polite and respectful ways.

 Assertiveness shows your respect towards other people's opinion and also towards yourself. Whether at home or work, with colleagues or customers, being assertive helps you expressing yourself in a positive and calm way without restricting other people's opinion or rights.

Being Assertive:

Assertive behavior includes:- 

• Being assertive involves considering other people's and your own wishes, needs, desires and perspective.
• Expressing views openly and encouraging others for the same.
• Listening to others views and reacting appropriately whether you are in agreement with their view or not.
• Being able to admit mistakes.
• Being able to apologize
• Regularly appreciating others for what they have done or are doing.
• Maintaining self-control and self-esteem.
• Being fair and kind to others.

Being Aggressive:

Aggressive behavior fails to consider other people's view point or feelings.

Aggressiveness towards other people lowers their self-esteem and tampers their rights. Your aggressive nature will lead to other people reacting to you in a non-assertive way. Aggressive person never appreciates others for their work. Aggressive response shows lack of self-control and your desire that everyone should agree to your view. It leaves a bad impression on people. Aggressive nature includes- rushing someone through their talk, ignoring other people's view, telling rather than asking and so on. It can be a bad or distressing experience to be spoken to aggressively.

Being Passive:

Many people respond in a passive way because they prioritize others rights and opinions. A passive response means to say “yes” to requests when actually you want to say “no”. Passive response is used to flatter the opposite person. Passive response does not let a person to show true feeling. Such people do not regard them as equals. This also means you allow others to take responsibilities and decisions for you. When you respond passively, you put yourself down in some way. If you constantly depreciate yourself in this way, you will feel inferior to others. 

The use of either passive or aggressive behaviour in personal relationships can have undesirable consequences for those you are communicating with and it may hinder positive moves forward

The biggest difference between being assertive and being aggressive is how your words affect the well-being of others.
Interaction is a two-way process and thus reactions may differ. It will be easy to be assertive to your friend than you boss. Anyways, being easy or not an Assertive response will help you boost self-confidence and help you be better and also maintain you relationships in a better way.

“You can speak well if your tongue can deliver the message of your heart” – John Ford