The dos and don’ts of asserting yourself in the workplace
Most of us want to advance in our careers. We want to climb that ladder all the way to the top. We want to be the best we can be. To get there we need to work hard, obviously. We need to push ourselves and put effort into every task we perform, no matter how small.
But that’s not all it takes to get where we want to be. In order to get what you want in the workplace, you need to be assertive.
Pushovers don’t get very far, no matter how talented they are. However, there is a right and a wrong way to be assertive. So, if you know this is something you need to work on, here are some simple dos and don’ts.
Do be honest
Don’t pretend something is alright when it clearly isn’t. If you feel someone is stopping you from doing your job properly for whatever reason, you need to raise the issue. Don’t let things fester. And if someone asks your opinion on their idea, tell them the truth. You won’t get anywhere protecting people’s egos.
Don’t be aggressive
Aggressive people are not liked by their peers and, in the modern office environment, it’s important you work well with your colleagues. Don’t attack your colleagues when trying to make a point. That only escalates conflict and could land up with you needing to get legal advice.
Do have a solution in mind
When you make a complaint about an issue, it’s important that you have a solution in mind. Or, at least, make sure you can point out what the problem is exactly. Sometimes you may be tempted to complain about a situation you know you can’t change. But that’s not going to lead to change or progress. When dealing with things like conflict resolution, you should always work towards a solution.
Don’t get personal
You should never attack someone personally in a work environment. Their looks, personality, history and relationship have nothing to do with work-related issues. These should never be brought up in a disagreement at the office. There’s no reason to do this. And it’ll make you look childish and unprofessional.
Being assertive is important. Ask for what you want. Tell people when you disagree. But always be polite, have a solution in mind and never ever get personal.