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Assrting Yorslf at Work

 

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Assrting Yorslf at Work

Constanc Zimmrman with Richard Lck

 

Neither the writers nor the American Management Management Association guarantees the results of the information, guidelin guidelines, es, and techniques presented in this wor. Copyright © 2010 American Management Association. Associatio n. All rights reserved. This material may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. ISBN-10: 0-7612-1436-4 ISBN-13: 978-0-7612-1436-6 Printed in the United States of America. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ AMERICAN MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION http://www.amanet.org 10

 

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1

Contnts About This Course How to Tae This Course Introduction

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Pre-Test Pre-T est

xvii

1 Assr As srti tinss—What nss—What It Is and Wh Why y It Mattrs

1

Assertiveness Assertiv eness Defined The Assertive Mode Passivity Aggression

Assertiveness and the New Worplace Assertiveness as a Signaling Mechanism Assertiveness Assertiveness Assertiv eness as a Learned Behavior

Recap Review Questions

2 Progrss Bgins with Slf-Aw Slf-Awarnss

11

Benchmaring Your Motivations Your Assertiveness Profile Your Score Interpreting Your Score

What Influences Your Assertiveness Mode? Childhood Experiences The Transference Trap Perfectionism The Role of Attitude Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence Recap Review Questions

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

3 Bilding Yor Assrtinss Assrtinss

31

Your Needs, Wants, Interests, Values, and Goals Needs  Needs  Wants Interests   Interests Values

Your Goals Short-Term Goals Short-Term Intermediate Goals Long-Term Goals Legacy Goals

Speaing Up for What Matters to You at Wor Engage in a Posit Positiv ivee Internal Dialogue Verbally Communicate in Assertive Ways Use the Most Effective E ffective Communication Channel Channel   Practice Good Timing  Timing 

Assertive Written Communication Have a Clear Purpose Mae Your Message Clear and Crisp Use the Most Effective E ffective and Appropriate Mode

Recap Review Questions

4 Assrti Assr ti  Nonrbal Nonrbal Commnication Commnic ation

59

The Power of Nonverbal Communication  Communication  Six Dimensions of Nonverbal Nonverbal Communication Communication   Body Movement Body Contact  Contact  Eye Contact  Contact  Interpersonal Space Silence   Silence Paralanguage   Paralanguage

Putting Together Together the Dimensions for Assertive Nonverbal Nonverbal Communication (ANC) Mae Proper Use of Space  Space  Maintain a Professional Appearance  Appearance  Give a Firm Handshae  Handshae  Use Direct Eye Contact  Contact  Use Good Post Posture ure   Purposeful Gestures  Gestures  Control Your Facial Expressions  Expressions  Effective Vocal Delivery

A Nonverbal Communication Journal

Align Your Verbal and Nonverbal Communication  Communication  Recap Review Questions

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

CONTENTS  

 

5 Assrti Assrtinss nss Opportnitis at Work

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Developing Positive Visibility at Wor Action #1: Spea Up and Share Your Views  Views  Action #2: Participate Actively in Meetings  Meetings  Action #3: Disagree Agreeably  Agreeably  Action #4: Be Your Own Best Champion Champion   Action #5: Handle Compliments with Grace  Grace  Action #6: Loo at Constructive Criticism as a Self-Improvement Opportunity  Opportunity  Action #7: Create a Daily Assertiv Assertiveness eness Plan

Tae Responsibility for Your Performance at Wor Tae Credit for Your Successes Don’t Tae Responsibility If It’s Not Yours

Recap Review Questions

6 Addrssing th Nds and Intrsts of Othrs 103 Evaluating Your Your Listening Sills: A Self-Assessment Totaling Your Score  Score  Interpreting Your Score Moving Toward Assertive Listening  Listening 

Three Levels of Listening Listening   Level 1: Listening to Be Aware Level 2: Listening to Learn Level 3: Listening to Engage

Exploring the Environment Needs and Interests of Others  Others  Create a Safe As Probing Questions  Questions  Avoid Questions that Provoe a Defensive Response Reciprocate   Reciprocate Be Proactive  Proactive 

Cultural Barriers to Communicating Needs and Interests Time and Trust Building  Building 

Cultural Dimensions  Dimensions 

Responding to the Needs and Interests of Others  Others  Thin It Over  Over  Focus on the Issue, Not the Person  Person  Use Collaborative Language  Language  Expand the Options Find Common Ground  Ground  Aim for Win-Win  Win-Win  Win Graciously  Graciously 

Recap Review Questions

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

7 Idntifying and Maintaining Assrti Assrti  Bondaris Bondar is at Work

139

Identifying Boundaries at W Wor or Boundaries of Respect Boundaries of Ethics Boundaries of Time  Time  Boundaries of Heath and Safety Boundaries of Discrimination and Sexual Harassment  Harassment 

Maintaining Assertive Boundaries at Wor Say “No” Literally  Literally  “No” in Other Words  Words  Say “No” Right Away to Sexual Harassment  Harassment 

Recap Review Questions

8 Assrti Assrtinss nss and Daling with Difficlt Popl Four Techniques for Dealing with Difficult People The Screaming Rant Defense The Broen Record Technique Fogging Negative Inquiry

157

Disarming the Worplace Bully Understand the Bully’s Goal Determine If You’re a Target  Target  Protect Your Your “Self ”  Blow the Whistle Get Yourself Out of the Bull’s-eye

Recap Review Questions

9 From Assrti Assrtinss nss to Inflnc

169

What Is Influence? The Role of Influence in the Worplace Three Building Blocs of Influence Self-Confidence Credibility Reciprocity

Recap Review Questions

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

CONTENTS  

 

Appendix: Your Assertiveness Asser tiveness Checsh Checsheet eet Bibliography Recommended Re commended Resources Resources Web Sites Glossa Glo ssary ry Post-Test ost-Test Index

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Abot This Cors

 Asserting Yourself at W Work  ork provides provides business professionals with the communication tools and psychological foundation they need to perform more assertively on the job. Designed for front-line managers, supervisors, team leaders, team members, employees, and life-long learners, this course promotes the use of direct, inclusive communication as a powe powerful rful tool for achieving targeted goals and building lasting relationships.  Asserting Yourself at W Work  ork teaches teaches students the sills they need to behave and communicate more assertively—and assertively—and therefore more ef effectiv fectively—in ely—in the worplace. Students learn to address their needs and interests at wor, and, at the same time, consider the needs and interests of others. Beginning with the foundation of self-awareness, the course builds these sills step by step. Students learn about and practice assertive verbal and nonverbal communication techniques, learn how to set proper boundaries in worplace relationships, and analyze how assertiveness plays out in other cultures. The interactivee format includes self-assessment tools, worsheets, sidebars, exerinteractiv cises, and quizzes that prompt students all along the way way.. Constanc Zimmrman served as an adjunct professor with the Center for Management Communication at the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. She was a nonfiction writer and producer of television, film, and corporate media, and the instructional designer of interactivee training programs. She was a producer of the PBS telecourse, Introteractiv duction to Business Communication: for Leadership, which the 1998 Excellence in Distance Learning Tools Teaching Award from the won U.S. Distance Learning Association. She was also the lead instructional designer and cowriter of the telecourse’s student and faculty guides issues, and writer of CRM

Film s award-winning award-winning video Dealing with Conflict. Ms. Zimmerman wrote leader’s guides and training designs on a number of topics, including leadership, non-defensive communication, verbal communication, teamwor, and stress management. She earned M.F.A and B.A. degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

Richard Lck has been a freelance business writer since 1992. His boos have been published by Oxford University Press, John Wiley & Sons, Harvard Business School Press, and AMACOM. In addition to self-study courses, he has developed many teaching cases for M.B.A. and executiv executivee education courses, and has collaborated with business school faculty, management consultants, and corporate executives executives on dozens of publications. Mr. Luece earned an M.B.A. from the University of St. Thomas and a B.A. in History from Shimer College. Coll ege.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

How to Tak This Cors

This course consists of text material for you to read and three types of activities (the pre- and an d post-test, in-text exercises, and end-of-chapter review questions) for you to complete. These activities are designed to reinforce the concepts introduced in the text portion of the course and to enable you to evaluate your progress.

PRe- AND POST-TeSTS Both a pre-test and post-test are included in this course. Tae the the pre-test before you study any of the course cour se material to determine deter mine your existing nowledge of the subject matter matter.. Submit one of the scannable answer forms enclosed with this course for grading. On retu return rn of the graded pre-test, complete the course material. Tae the post-test after you have completed all the course material. By comparing results of the pre-test and the post-test, you can measure how effective the course has ha s been for you. To have your pre-test and post-test graded, please mail your answer forms to: educational Srvics Amrican Managmnt Association P.O. Box 133 Florida, NY 10921 All tests are review reviewed ed thoroughly by our instructors instructor s and will be returned to you promptly. If you are viewing the course digitally, the scannable forms enclosed in the hard copy of AMA Self-Study titles are not available digitally. If you would lieof tothe taecourse the course for credit, you will need to either purchaseana hard copy from www.amaselfstudy.org or you can purchase online version of the course from  from www.flexstudy.com. www.flexstudy.com.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

THe TexT The most important component of this course is the text, where where the concepts and methods are presented. Reading each chapter twice twice will increase the lielihood of your understanding the text fully fully.. We recommend that you wor on this course in a systematic way. Reading the text and woring through the exercises at a regular and steady pace will hel help p ensure that you get the most out of this course cour se and retain what you hav havee learned. In your first reading, concentrate on getting an overview of the chapter content. Read the learning objectives at the beginning of the chapter first. They will act as guidelines to the major topics of the chapter and identify the sillss y sill you ou should master as you study the text. As you read the chapter, pay

attention to the headings and subheadings. Find the general theme of each section and see how that theme relates to others. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with details during the first reading; simply concentrate concentrate on understanding and remembering the major themes. In your second reading, loo for the details that underlie the themes. Read the entire chapter carefully and methodically, underlining ey points, woring out the details of examples, and maing marginal notes as you go. Complete the activities.

ACTIvITIeS Interspersed with the text of each chapter you will find a series of activities. These can tae a variety of forms, including essays, short-answer quizzes, or charts and questionnaires. Completing the activities will enable you to try out new ideas, practice and improve new sills, and test your understanding of  the course content.

THe RevIeW Q  ueSTIONS After reading a chapter and before going on to the next chapter, wor through the Review Review Questions. Answering the questions and comparing your answ answers ers to those given will help you to grasp the major ideas of that chapter. If you perform these self-chec exercises consistently, you will develop a framewor in which to place material presented in later chapters.

GRADING POLICY The American Management Association will continue to grade examinations and tests for one year after the course’s out-of-print date. If you have have questions regarding the tests, the grading grading,, or the cour course se itself, call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

Introdction

Welcome to the American Management Association’s Self-Study course on  Asserting Yourself Yourself at W Work  ork . Assertiveness Assertiveness is a form of behavior and communication that individuals can use to stand up for their needs and interests, their rights and values. It helps them to stand up to difficult people and stand out from others in positive w ways. ays. Equally important, assertiv asser tiveness eness puts them in in a position to exercise influence over over their subordinates, peers, and bosses. This course will give you the sills you need to be more assertive. By following its step-by-step instruction, and completing its self-assessment tools, practical exercises, and review questions, you’ll learn to diagnose your current level of assertiv asser tiveness, eness, then strengthen it. Here’s what what you’ll learn in the chapters that follow: Chapter

Key Learnings  

1

This chapter provides a working d de efinition of assert rtiiveness and contrasts iitt with two other modes of behavior and communication: passivity and aggression. The benefits of asser assertiveness tiveness for the individual and his or her organization are spelled out and contrasted to the problems associated with the other two modes.

2

This chapter helps readers explore their goals and motivation for becoming more assertive and describe where they currently stand on the passiveassertive-aggressive assertive-aggressiv e continuum. The key influences in a person’s life that affect assertiveness are explained and ilillustrated. lustrated.

3

This chapter explores how to identify one’s needs, wants, interests, and values. These are examined in the context of shor short-, t-, medium-, and long-term goals. The chapter introduces skil skills ls and strategies to develop assertive verbal and written wr itten communication.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved.

http://www.amanet.org/ 

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

Chapter

Key Learnings  

4

This c ch hapter ffo ocuses on on tth he iim mport rta ance o off a as ssert rtiive n no onverbal c co ommunication. It explores the differences between passive, aggressive, and assertive nonverbal nonverb al cues. The six key dimensions of assertive nonver nonverbal bal communication (ANC) are introduced, with an explanation of how they can be combined to strengthen nonverbal communication. Strategies for aligning verbal and nonverbal nonverb al communication are examined.

5

This chapter examines strategies and actions for creatin ing g a posit itiive and visible presence at work. Seven practical actions are listed, including one that involves creating a daily action plan. The importance of taking ownership, or responsibility,, for one’s successes and failures at work is also addressed. responsibility

6

This chapter explores the import rta ance of listening in understanding tth he needs and interests of others in the workplace. It identifies the three levels levels of listening and examines techniques to explore others’ needs and interests. Multicultural barriers that may keep people from disclosing their needs, interests, and concerns are examined, as well as techniques for responding to them.

7

This chapter defines assert rtiive boundaries in the workplace. It examines boundaries related to respect, ethics, time, health and safety safety,, and discrimination. Techniques for maintaining these boundaries are provided.

8

This chapter defin ine es four techniques for dealing wit ith h dif ifffic icu ult or hostile people and strategies for implementation. Practical Practical methods for dealing with workplace bullies are also explored.

9

This chapter provides a definition of influence and explores how it works in organizations. The three building blocks of influences are examined, and a method for mapping the pattern of influence in i n your immediate workplace is provided.

Designed for frontline managers, supervisors, team members, and ranand-file employees, Asserting employees, Asserting Yourself Yourself at W Work  ork promotes promotes forms of behavior and communication that will help you be more successful and more satisfied in your woring life.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

Pr-Tst

Assrting Assr ting Yorslf at W Work ork

Cors Cod 97004 INSTRUCTIONS: Record your answers answers on one of the scannable forms enclosed. Please follow the directions on the form carefully. Be sure to keep a copy of the completed answer   form for your records. records. No photocopies will be graded. When When completed, mail your answer  answer   form to:  edcational Srics Amrican Managmnt Association P.O. Bo 133

Florida, NY 10921

If you are viewing the course digitally, the scannable forms enclosed in the hard copy of    AMA Self-Study Self-Study titles are not available digitally. If you would like like to take the course for  credit, you will need to either purchase a hard copy of the course from  www.amaselfstudy.org or you can purchase an online version of the course from  www.flexstudy.com.   1.  Which of the following following is representative representative of a person with an assertive mode of communicating and acting? (a) Defends his or her personal bounda boundaries ries against against infringement infringement (b) Aims to d dominat ominatee othe others rs (c) Subm Submits its to the de desires sires o off others (d) Avoids eye eye contact

Do you have questions? Comments? Need clarification? Call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or e-mail at [email protected]. [email protected].  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

  2.  Research Research indicates that non-verbal non-verbal elements of communication such as voice tone, facial expression, and posture account for ____________  percent of what a listener perceives. perceives. (a) 93 (b) (b) 55 (c) 20 (d)7   3.  Voice tone, speaing rate, vocal vocal inflec inflection, tion, volume, energy energ y level, level, and fluency are all aspects of: (a) para paralang languag uage. e. (b) aggressi (c) aaggressive passi passive vevespeaing spcommunication. eaing style. style. (d) asserti assertiven veness. ess.   4.  For a high school freshman, becoming a medical doctor w would ould be a: (a) sho short-t rt-term erm goa goal.l. (b) interm intermediate ediate goal. goal. (c) lon long-t g-term erm go goal. al. (d) leg legacy acy goal. goal.

  5. Active listening: (a) aims to ex exert ert psychological control over over the speaer. speaer. (b) involv involves es detailed note-taing. (c) goe goess be beyo yond nd passi passive ve absorption absorption of information to active active involvement involv ement in communication. (d) requires a superior/subordinate relationship between two parties.   6.  Which of the following following best describes the the behavior or communication of a passive person? (a) Displa Displays ys hostile facial expressions expressions when challenged challenged (b) Does not att attempt empt to influence influence others others (c) Will explain his or her viewpoint w without ithout coaxing (d) Is more thoughtful and observant tthan han other people   7.  A person can achieve positive positive visibility in an organization organization by: (a) learning to disagree disagree agreeably agreeably.. (b) tagging along with the boss whenever whenever possible. (c) play playing ing up his or her accomplishme accomplishments. nts. (d) av avoiding oiding conflict. conflict.   8.  The boundary of time that must be assertively assertively defended refers to a person’s right to: (a) a healthy balance between between worplace worplace and personal needs. (b) the efficie efficient nt use of time spent at wor. wor. (c) time ma manage nagement ment pri principles nciples.. (d) reduce woring woring hours as he or she approaches retirement.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PRE-TEST  

 

i   9.  The abstract ideals we adhere to, to, and for which we we wish to be nown no wn are: are: (a) leg legac acy y goals. goals. (b) (b) ne need eds. s. (c (c)) valu alues es.. (d) rig rights hts.. view that the glass is half full, gives gives us the 10.  ________________, or the view courage and incentive we need to pursue what we want. (a) Deep-s Deep-seated eated pessim pessimism ism (b) Strat Strategic egic thinin thiningg

(c) Sel Self-d f-dece eceptio ption n (d) Positiv ositivee thining

11. In a “high power distance culture,” subordinates are liely to tell their superiors: (a) exactly exactly w what’ hat’ss on their minds. (b) what the they y thin their superiors want to to hear. (c) as much as the they y are ased ased to tell. (d) personal confidences confid ences that their superiors may not want to now now.

12.  Assertiveness: (a) is a mode of behavior that people are born with, but w which hich they they cannot develop. (b) is only useful for people in supervisory or managerial managerial positions. (c) must be suppressed w when hen dealing with with senior people in the organization. (d) can be de developed veloped through learning and practice.

13.  To come across as an assertive asser tive communi communicator, cator, you you should: (a) avoid beginning beginning your sentences with “I thin . . . .” (b) give give all the details, then state your ey ey message. (c) alw always ays put it in wri writing. ting. (d) apologize apologize first for the problem. problem.

14.  In confronting unsafe or unhealthy w worplace orplace conditions, assertive people: (a) whi whine ne to their bosses. bosses. (b) compla complain in among themsel themselves ves.. (c) pose thei theirr concerns as problems problems that need to be solve solved. d. (d) loo for the company’ company’ss point of view. view.

15.  An assertive assertive person will tae tae credit for his or her accomplishments, but will also: (a) avoid activ actively ely taing responsibility for failures. (b) tae responsibility for mistae mistaess made by by others. (c) remind peo people ple of his or her successes whene whenever ver possible. possible. (d) acno acnowledg wledgee the contribut contributions ions of others.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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ASSERTING YOUR OURSEL SELF F AT WORk

16.  In Maslow’s Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, ___________________ is a high-level

need. (a)) food (a food (b) (b) sa safet fety y (c (c)) sh shel elte terr (d) self-e self-esteem steem wn mista mistaes es and the 17.  ____________ have trouble accepting their oown mistaes of others. (a) Prag Pragmat matist istss (b) Objec Objecti tivists vists (c) Perfe erfecti ctioni onists sts (d) Caree Careerr climbers

18.  Which of the following following countries has a collectivist cultu culture? re? (a) Uni United ted Stat States es (b) Unite United d kingdom kingdom (c (c)) Ca Cana nada da (d)) Japan (d apan

19.  Constant criticism, diminishing or denying denying a person’s achie achievements vements,, public humiliation, screaming, blaming, the silent treatment, and maing threats (of job loss) are indicators of: (a) microm micromanage anagement. ment. (b) ex excessi cessive ve supervis supervision. ion. (c) bul bullyi lying ng.. (d) multi multitasin tasing. g. A situation in which agagressiveness eness behavior is: 20.  (a) gi giving ving feedbac feedb ac toaggressiv subordin subordinate. ate.may be appropriate behavior (b) establishing a relationship with a ne new w co-worer co-worer.. (c) taing charg chargee during an emergency emergency. (d) enlisting collaboration within your team.

21.  The greatest test of assertiveness is: (a) aligning verbal verbal and nonverbal messages. (b) dealin dealingg with hostile or difficult people. people. (c) moving from a passi passive ve to a passiv passive-aggressi e-aggressive ve state. (d) scoring a job interview. interview.

22.  The building blocs of influence include: (a (a)) cunn cunning ing.. (b) substantial formal pow power er.. (c) credibility credibility and sel self-confi f-confidence. dence. (d) a lofty lofty goal. goal.  

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PRE-TEST  

 

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23.   A person who comes comes to meetings prepared and who participates actively is liely to create ____ actively _________________________ _____________________ in the organization. (a (a)) ch char arism ismaa (b) con conflic flictt (c (c)) en enem emie iess (d) positi positive ve visibility visibility

24.  An assertive assertive technique for diffusing another person’s criticism of you is: (a) negati negative ve inquiry. inquiry. (b) ranting ranting.. (c) becoming becoming aggre aggressi ssive. ve. (d) denial. denial.

25.  The ability to change the thining or behavior behavior of others without applying (a) assertive assertiforce, veness. ness.threats, or formal orders refers to: (b) influen influence. ce. (c) behavior behavior modific modification. ation. (d) moti motiva vation. tion.

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1 A—Wa i i ad Wy i Ma Learning Objectives  Objectives  By the ed  th chapte, y hd be abe t:

• Dee paty, aetee, ad ae•

. Expa hw azat that deped  empyee empwemet ad team-baed w beet m aete empyee.

What d we mea by aetee? Why hd t matte t y ad t y azat? Hw de t deet m the mde  beha ad cmmcat? Th chapte dee what  meat by aetee ad hw t ctat wth pae ad aee mde, whch ca edce a pe’ wpace eectee eectee ad caee cce.

Assertiveness DefineD  Assertiveness  a mde  pea beha ad cmmcat chaactezed  Assertiveness  chaactezed by a we t tad p  e’ e’ eed ad teet  a pe ad dect way. ay. The aet aetee pe tad p  th that matte t hm  he whe at the ame tme epect the th that matte t the. Y’e ’e pbaby w pepe wh e e th de det: t: the b wh  pe t y dea, bt wh eee the ht t mae a dec; the c-w c-we e wh ’t aad t pea p d meet ad t deed he ewpt.

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oursElf Elf AT Work AssErTing Yours

t A Md Pepe wh wh ct  the assertive  assertive mde mde  ate the w eed ad teet and  and ecze ecze the eed ad teet  the. They d th  the ppe baace. Aete A ete pepe hae hae a t ee  e-eteem that aw them t ptect the ht. They e pe, dect, ad het cmmcat wth the. Whe they ee ay  pet, they ct the ce  ce  the ae mmedatey  a bjecte way. They mae themee be  azat ad w cabatey wth the. They They tae tae epbty  the dec ad beha beha,, ad w p t the mtae. The They y ae cacated ca cated -tae.

sme aete pepe wee aed  amate, a mate, t emet that pded e mde  caee cce. othe othe  dd t hae the adaadatae  pte pte chdhd    e mde. They They che t ecme ecme btace ad becme aete, ee that mde  beha ad cmmcat a the bet way way t peate ad t each the a. Aetee  bet detd  eat t tw ey deet ad pp m  pea pe a beha ad cmmcat: paty ad ae.

Pay Passivity  a aete cdt chaactezed by bmee ad a ea Passivity   we t tad p  e’ eed ad teet. The pa paee pe hd bac m attempt t ece the, ad tead aw the t ece hm  he ad depect h  he ht  ht ad bdae. Becae the pae pe de t aet h  he ew  ae  the beha, h  he ew ae eeay cea  w t the, ma dae ad dea ha dct. Pepe wh wh ct  th thee pae ( -aete) mde te adde the eed ad cce cce   the bee they adde adde the w. They They w be qc t apze, metme  th they dd’t d. They’e ced t be qet, t-pe, ad ee tmd. They They pee t be be, athe tha be  azat. They They d t dct t pea p  meet  pea t abt th that pet them. They They hae tbe accept cmpmet. rathe tha ct a pe  tat decty, they w hd the ee de  cmpa abt the pbem t mee ee. Whe they ee ay, they’e apt t ppe t. Paee pepe d t had Pa ha d t tad p  the th e ht ad may aw pepe t ate the bdae. Thee dda may cme m t cte that te pea eathp e dda acheemet. T They hey may hae pet the mate yea  cectt athe tha  cmpette tat. i eea, me m e wme tha me ae -ae -aet te, e, bt that’ bee cha wmeadate tae  hhe pt  the wpace—ad eat awme m pea edcat pam.ew eWhat de a pae pe d  d e? Cde th exampe: rache wa e a pject i deeed t et. i hae me expeece ad, i beee beee,, am bette qaed. qa ed. i ee eted dea  hw t et the pject . nw rache w e my dea ad AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

AssErTivEnEss —WHA HAT T iT is AnD WHY iT MATTErs  

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et the cedt. i  admt, he bbed M. Ce petty had  the amet. i dd’t. i jt dd’t ee cmtabe pmt mye e that. Ae y a pae pe at w—ethe t  dteet, ea,  ac  cdece? D y w the wh demtate the chaactetc   paty: a ceae wh edm pea p d meet  whe dec that aect hm ae be made; a bdate wh  ectat t hae he dea wth y?

Agg A a m  pea beha  cmmcat cmmcat, , aggression  aggression   the ppte  paty. The aee pe ha  ectace  mp h  he ew  the,  ham the teet  the pt  h  he w. rathe tha cabate wth the, the aee pe pee t dmate,  theat, azata  azata athty,  by whe eceay. He  he ted t mcmaae the w  bdate; th mt be de h  he way. Th pe et the ece  the ee a e pwe. i may cae, the aee pe  awae  h  he eect  the—th pe pe  th that he  he  mpy be aete. Cde th exampe: i jt t a 360-deee pemace eew m my ta, b, ad pee. They ad that i eem beed wth mcmaa the depatmet. My dect ept cam they hae tte pt t dec ad that i   mee t bame whe th  w. They cam that i e my pwe t bette them. smee ee ed the wd “txc” t decbe me. Txc! Txc! Whee dd that cme c me m? i d’t ee mye that way way. i ph my ta t pem aatt a pea ee, a ay d maae wd. Ee ,  mbe hae h ae bee dw  the at tw qate. My b th thee’ a  betwee my tye ad the dappt et. Pepe wh ct  the aee mde  ate the w eed ad teet t. The eed ad teet  the ae away ecday. remcet  the d set e that “What’ me  me, what’ what’ y  etabe,” they they tad p  the ht, bt te at the expee  the. Aee pepe hae tte tbe accept cmpmet ad may tae cedt  the pepe’ w. They’e They’e te d ad be  azat. They hae dcty ct ct  the ae ad may hmate the  pbc. They They ate the pepe’ bdae. idect m   ae, ch a acam, ae ed t pt dw  ct the. sme aee pepe cme m ache cte that ae dda cce me tha pea eathp. They may hae pet the mate yea  cmpette athe tha  t ca tcte. i eea, me me tha wme ae ae aee, e, athh that’ cha, epecay  hhy cmpette cmpette ed.

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AssErTing Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

A Mxd Md: Pa-Agg Ba A bet  the pae pa e mde  wth met hee—  passi  passive-agg ve-aggressi ressive  ve  beha.. A we’ beha we’e e dced, pepe wh ae pae te hae tbe ct tat that pet them  pe ad dect way. itead, they ae ced t te the ae a e,, ad the cmpa abt ab t the pe  tat t mee ee— eah the ae dw the ad at mee wh had th t d wth the pbem. i ht, pepe wh behae  a pae-aee way ae pae whe a tb tat ae, bt aee  et the ae. The attbte  paty, aetee, ad ae ae mmazed  Exhbt 1-1. Y ca pbaby ee the pety  the aete mde  beha ad cmmcat e e paty ad ae—bth m a pea cac aee ad azata  azata eectee eectee pepect pe pecte. e. By be pe t ece, aete pepe ae abe t ece the  et. By deed the ew ad ht m emet, aete pepe mata the pt.

xhibit 1-1 The Passive-Assertive-Aggressive Continuum

Passivity

• Does not stand up for his/her interests and viewpoints, but submits to those of others • Does not share his/her views on what’s important • Allows others to disrespect his/her opinions and rights • Does not try to influence others

Asser tiveness

• Speaks his/her mind • Makes his/her agenda clear • Not afraid to attempt to influence others • Respects the views and rights of others • Defends his/her views, rights, and boundaries against infringement • Controls anger

  Aggression  

• Aims for dominance over others • Imposes his/her views on others • Does not respect views or boundaries of others • Resistant to influence by others • May lose control of his/her anger • Uses threats to get

• Demonstrates a lack of confidence in dealing with more assertive people • More inclined to react than to act

• Uses aggressive behavior defensiv defensively ely • Is open to influence even as he/she seeks to influence others

his/her way • Is “in your face” • Aims to be highly visible visi ble

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

AssErTivEnEss —WHA HAT T iT is AnD WHY iT MATTErs  

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Aee c-we c-we ec ecze ze that aete ae te pepe mt be tae ey ad appached wth epect. Whe aet aetee pepe pea the md  e that matte t them ad t theazat azat,ad they ctbtet t mptat dec—theeby hap the ec dect. Hhe maaemet, pee, ad bdate ae ee aete dda a pepe t be eced wth—pepe wth meth t ctbte. Th te taate t eate caee pptte. i ctat, pae pepe ae e eae at  a team, daw a by the cet, bt ma  mpact  the dect  peed  the w. They w hae ew pptte  adacemet. Aee pepe,  the the had, may ceate pbem  the azat ad  the ad them. Whe ae may et them what they wat  may cae, the beha w p p ee cty  the  . C-w C-we e whe ew ad ht ae t epected w tp e hep. Pee whe ht ae ed w becme eeme ad may actey deme the ae. Whe ce be mae e mtae  et t th tat,  e wat t cme t the ad.

Asser ssertive tiveness ness AnD the neW WorkPlAce The typca wpace ha bee tamed—m a ey cted ad tated emet t e that  me pe ad depedet  the tate  empyee at a ee. Th ew wpace beet m empyee aetee. ut a ew decade a, mt azat wed a cmmad-adct mde  whch mat abt ctme ad peat wed pwad thh the cha  cmmad t the tp. We cmmcated

wth the pe. The pe decded what mat wa eeat e at t pa p t the ext ee, ee, ad  . Baed    that mat, dec wee made at the tp ee ad the cmmcated dwwad dwwad thh the ame cha  cmmad. The pepe at  ea the tp dd a the th, decd, ad de; the pepe bew wed the de. hatwd cmmad-ad-ct memet  maaemet ha aey e way t a T ew  empyee empyee empw empwemet ad team-baed w, w, bthway   whch deped  the tate ad cabat  empyee at a ee. Employee empowerment ee empowerment ee t a maaemet tye that e bdate btata dcet  hw they accmph the bjecte. Maae expa what eed t be de, bt eae t p t bdate t d the bet way t d t. Thee ame maae  t the empyee—wh ae mch ce t the act— the dea ad data  whch the dec w be made. Empweed empyee ae a e eate athty e cmpay ece. f exampe, a empyee wh dea decty wth ctme may be athzed—wtht t chec wth h  he b—t e ebate ebate,, dct, ed,et  thethat ece  de tctbte ee pbem  cect e. reeach empwemet t eate empyee mtat, mt at, pdctty p dctty,, ad wpace atact.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 



AssErTing Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Team-based  w wth pemed  a cdated mae by a et   empy empyee, ee, tework dda ey deet . May mptat ctme acct ae w w haded by team that cde,  exampe, exampe, a aepe, a techca ppt pecat, ad a ctme ece epeetate. Thee team membe hae mat ad dea, ad w tethe t et ad eep the acct. lewe, lewe, ew pdct ae te deeped by ccta team that cde eee, maet ad maact pee, ad aca pecat. Paty ad ae ae detcte  bth empyee empwemet ad team-baed w. Empyee empwemet deped  pepe ta chae ad pea p; aetee  beha  peata mpemet  eqed. Ad becae empwe empweed ed empy empyee ee ae hed epbe  et, they they mt hae the cdece ad bacbe t ptect the abty t th ad act. Team a deped p the cce  the aetee   the membe. Ee whe thee  a ma eade, eade, team membe mt hae the cdece t hae dea ad mat, ad mae a t cae  ew ad bette way way  d the w. Whe team dec ae made, each membe’ ce matte. A aee, e-aadz dda  txc t a mthy ct team. Thee’  m  a pe wth a “d e-

eat” peaty. lewe, lewe, a pa pa ee team membe  e  ey y t ctbte a mch a he  he hd.

Think About It . . .   Do you work in a team-based workplace? If you do, reflect for a moment on the behaviors and communication styles of both you and your teammates. Would any fit our description of passivity? If they do, briefly describe the impact of that passivity on the effective functioning of your team.

Does anyone on your team display aggressive behavior? Describe how that behavior affects affects the work of your team and its i ts operational results.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

HAT T iT is AnD WHY iT MATTErs   AssErTivEnEss —WHA

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A a a sgag Mam The ew wpace deped  pepe be aabe be t atcate the ccce ce ad epd apppatey t the. the . D y cmmcate wth a apppate ee  aete aetee? e? Aetee Aet ee ha a tata cmpet becae we ew me th a me mptat mp tat tha the the. . We’e We’e atay me w t pea p  me th tha  the; the ; we et   th that ae’t wth the et  that we ca cmmt   eey t the that ae. i th ee, aete

cmmcat a ae ad cde mptat. f exampe, yed may at caeabt wheewhat ywe cmpay hd t aa hday paty, bt y do  do cae cae abt the cmpay’ ma  detem t aa b. o pehap pehap  t’ the the way ad. Y Y  may cae eaty aabt bt the me becae a me eabate aa ed a meae abt hw mch the cmpay ae y ad y team. i ay eet, y’e the y e wh ha the ht t decde thee th. Be aete  e e thee et the pepe w whee y tad ad what y ew a mptat. A pae pae pe wh ee tad p  pea t a ed a a t the—te the —te the w e: “Whatee “Whatee y y  decde  ay wth me me,” ,”  “i d’t cae e way  the the.” What a d thee tatemet ed?

A a lad Ba Ae y pae  y cmmcat at w ad tated  tated by hw t’ hd y bac? D y hae a habtay aee appach t dea wth the—a the—a  appach y’d e e t chae? i y aw aweed eed “ye” t ethe qet, thee’ d ew. it’ pbe t chae. Y ca ea t be aete—  whatee whate e y expeece ad emta emta maep—ad  matte hw ax ax  y mht ee abt  t a ty. Y ca chae patte  beha that peet y m becm the aete pe y wat t be. it’ ma t the qet, “Ae “Ae eade made  b b?” ?” sme pepe hae ata eadehp , whe the mt w t acqe the  thh ea ad pactce. Ad  t w w  be wth y qet t becme me aete. ae te. T The he wede y a  th ce, c e, cmbed wth ea pactce, w mae aete aete beha ad cmmcat cmmca t ecd at atee t y. y. The  t t tep tw twad ad that a  e-detad, the bject  the ext chapte chapte..

Exercise 1-1 Identify the Mode

 

Read the following scenario, then answer the questions. The monthly sales meeting followed its usual pattern. Rolf, the district sales manager, chaired the meeting from his seat at the head of the conference table table.. He glared at his subordinates over the rim of his glasses and said, “Well, you have last month’s results in front of you. They’re pathetic.” Then raising his voice, he yelled, “They stink!” Except for Ellen, the five salespeople at the table and Rolf’s secretary all avoided eye contact with their boss. bos s. They found it safer to look down at the report repor t in front of them. Unlike Rolf, the repor reportt wouldn’t bite them. Exercise 1-1 continues on next page.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 



AssErTing Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Exercise 1-1 continued from previous page. Then Ellen spoke up. “Yes, we’ve had a bad month overall,” she said directly to Rolf. Then diverting her gaze in turn to each of the others, she continued. “Each “Each of us can certainly do better better.. And we have a number of opportunities to do so. Let me list them briefly, starting with the Acme account, where an order decision is pending.” Ellen’s confidence in speaking about several opportunities to bring in sales relieve relieved d some of the tension and fear that Rolf had cast over the group. Nevertheless, the others remained silent, si lent, speaking only to answer questions put to them directly by R Rolf olf or Ellen. When the meeting ended, Ellen Ell en stayed behind to talk with Rolf; Rol f; the rest quickly e exited xited the conference room and scurried back to their cubicl cubicles. es. Later that day, Jim and Suzanne, two of Rolf’s sales people, encountered each other in the coffee room. “That meeting was appa appalling. lling. Rolf is such a jer jerk,” k,” Jim opined. “If I didn’t need the commission income so badly, I’d let my sales go to pot next month just to make him look bad as sales manager. If we all did tha that, t, do you think they’d fire hi him?” m?” This was dangerous talk. Suzanne finished pouring her coffee and quickly left the room. 1. Which of the char characters acters in this scenario would y you ou describe as aggressive? Explain.

2. Which char character acter dem demonstrated onstrated assertive beha behavior vior and communication? Explain.

3. Which character displayed passive-aggr passive-aggressive essive behavior? Explain.

4. What pa passiv ssive e beha behavior vior did y you ou see in th the e scena scenario? rio?

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

AssErTivEnEss —WHA HAT T iT is AnD WHY iT MATTErs  

 

re

p

9

Aetee  a mde  pea beha ad cmmcat chaactezed by a we t tad p  e’ eed, cce, ad teet  a pe ad dect d ect way way. Aetee et ee tad  ctat wth tw the mde: paty

ad ae. Paty ad a aaete cdt t chaactezed by bmee, ea  we tad p  e’ eed ad teet. The pae pae pe h hd d bac m attempt t ece the, ad tead aw the t ece hm  he ad depect h  he ht ad bdae. o the ppte ed  the beha ctm  ae. ae . The a aee ee pe ha  ectace  mp h  he ew  the,  ham the teet  the pt  h  he w. Th pe pee t dmate the tha t cabate wth them. Theat, mcmaa, ad by ae ed t et h  he way. Becae the aete aete mde  beha ad cmmcat c mmcat  me cmpatbe wth wpace that embace empyee empwemet ad teambaed w, t ha caee ad azata beet that paty ad ae ac. Aetee a act a a a mecham, te te  the what the aete aete pe cde mptat. A pe’ ata mde  beha ad cmmcat may be a pdct  h  he pb. Hwee,, that ata mde ca be chaed thh ea ad pactce. ee

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

10  

AssErTing YoursElf AT Work

Review Questions   INSTRUCTIONS: Here is the first set of review questions in this course. Answering the questions following each chapter will give you a chance to check your comprehension of the concepts as they are presented  and will reinforce your understanding of them.  As you you can see bbelow elow,, the ans answer wer to to each each numbe numbered red qquesti uestion on is printed printed to tthe he side side of the que question. stion. Before  Before  beginning, you should conceal the answers by placing a sheet of paper over the answers as you work down the   page.  pag e. Then Then read and and answ answer er each each question. question. Compare Compare your an answe swers rs wit withh those gi given. ven. For any any questions questions you  answer incorrectly, make an effort to understand why the answer given is the correct one. You may find it  helpful to turn back to the appropriate section of the chapter and review review the material of which which you were unsure.  At any any ra rate, te, be su sure re yo youu unders understand tand all all the rev review iew question questionss bef before ore ggoing oing on to the next chapter chapter..   1.  Aetee Aetee ca be a ________________  ett the pepe w what y y th  mptat. (a) a a mecha mecham m (b) bte bte ee (c) (c) p pxy (d) ta ta d dcat cat 

1. (a)

  2.  A pe’ beha ad cmmcat mde: (a)  a ateabe ateabe ceq ceqece ece   cazat cazat. . (b)  eated eated t pb pb ad eexpee xpeece. ce. (c) ca be chaed chaed thh thh e ea a ad pa pactce. ctce. (d) ha  caee caee c ceqe eqece. ce.

2. (c)

  3.  Whch Whch  the w type  wpace deped  empy empyee ee

3. (d)

aetee  cce? aetee (a) A heachc heachca a w wp pace ace (b) A cmmad-adcmmad-ad-ct ct w wpace pace (c) A tate tated d wpa wpace ce (d) A team-bae team-baed d w wpace pace   4.  Y ae  the aee aee mde  y:

4. (b)

(a) te t the the ad mth th th   e e t e eep ep the peace. (b) am t t dmate dmate the. (c) ae qc qc t admt y y mt mta ae. e. (d) e e baaced cm cmpmet pmet ad ctcte ctcte ctcm.   5.  Be aete mea: (a) ptt ptt the pe pepe’ pe’ eed ad teet teet t. (b) tad p  e’ e’ eed ad teet  pe ad dect way. (c) away away pa pay y t w,  matte w what hat the ct. (d) cmb eate  bth the pae pae ad aee aee mde. mde.

5. (b)

Do you have questions? Comments? Need clarification? Call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or e-mail at [email protected]. [email protected]. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

2 P B P B  w s-aw Learning Objectives  Objectives 

By th d o th chapt, yo hold b abl to:

• Atclat

yo oal ad motvato o

b mo a tv. atv . ow tad o th pawh yo • Dcb

• • •

v-atv-av cotm. Lt y lc  yo l that act yo atv a tv. . Dcb th ol o chldhood xpc, tac, ad pctom  hap yo atv atv po pol. l. Dcb th ol o atttd, l-tm, ad l-codc  hap yo atv tv  po pol. l.

Th pvo chapt dd atv a tv ad dtd t val to yo ca ad to th oazato yo wo o. H w ht th oc om th bjct o atv to yo, th ad. W W am to hlp yo dtad yo motvato motv ato o bcom bc om mo atv a tv ad, thoh a l-tt,  l-tt, povd a way way to ma wh yo a ow o th pav-atv-a pav-atv-av v cotm. Oc yo ow wh yo yo tad, w wll o th, pob th l lc that hav cotbtd to yo ct mod o bhavo ad commcato. Th act o coz th lc wll hlp yo cotol thm.

Benchmarking Your motivations Bo w t to yo atv pol, lt’ add yo motvato. What tato o coc boht yo to th o ta th co?

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OurseLf eLf AT WOrk AsserTing YOurs

W yo td o b a doomat o mo av popl at wo? i  yo’ a av typ, phap yo watd to “to t dow” at ya o alat popl wth yo mpl to alway alway t th pp had. Phap yo lot yo job o th a yo watd, o yo w pad ov o pomoto. Phap yo bodat cow wh thy  yo o ba dow wh yo pmad thm—o v wo, ht dow altoth. Phap yo bo, a colla, o a lovd o td yo  p o a atv tv ta.

Whatv yo motvato, ta th tm ht ow to th abot t ad yo tato. Wt dow yo yo aw to th qto qt o  exc exc  2-1. Aw ach qto hotly ad lly. u a paat ht o pap  yo d mo pac. kp th woht hady o that yo ca ma yo po a yo mov mov thoh th co. co .

Exercise 2-1 Your Goals and Motivations Answer each of the following questions about your goals and motivations. 1.What situation or event prompted you to seek assertiveness training?

2. What do you e expect xpect to change or accomplish as a result of this course?

Exercise 2-1 continues on next page.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf AWAreness  

 

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Exercise 2-1 continued from previous page. 3. How do you visualize yourself once y you ou have achiev achieved ed your desired results?

How dd yo aw aw th qto  exc 2-1? Phap lo a pomoto o mpotat mpo tat amt to a mo a atv tv co-wo co-wo  yo motvato o ta co. ad Phap atcpat bht ca t by bcom lth av moyo atv. Caa yo valz yol  maa popl d dclt tato  way that a pctl yt m? Whatv Whatv  yo po, ta a momt to poc thm ad th dply abot yo tyl o bhavo ad commcato, ad how both cold b chad to ma yo mo ctv at wo.

Your assertiveness Profile Th t tp towad bcom atv atv  to abd by that w commad to “owthyl.” thyl. ” sl-aw sl-awa a  th odato od ato o l-mpovmt. Td o c-a cd yo qt to a a mo atv atttd ad bhavo, yoTo cla da o who yo a, how yo ot to b what yo a, ad how yo pcv th wold. Whl th a o ay aw cv aw to th qto, yo may xpc om “aha” momt om tm to tm—v tm—vlato lato ad ht  ht that pa yo maato ad t tly ly cha yo w way ay o th. Y Yt, t, p  md that may popl pd ya o ol-ach wth pooal colo  a ot  ot to dtad th  lv ad th otw otwad ad acto. Yo Yo qt o l l-aw -awa a may cot lo lo at yo complt th co. W coa yo to ma t a llo joy. Th pvo chapt dtd a cotm o bhavo ad commcato, a om pavty o o d, wth ao o th oth, ad atv  th ct. Bo w o th, lt’ ta toc o wh yo ctly tad o that cotm. i yo atal clato to b pav, atv, o av? Th l-amt xc ptd  exc 2-2 wll hlp yo aw that qto. A yo complt th xc, b a hot a yo ca. Yo wll total ad valat yo co lat.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

14  

AsserTing YOurs OurseLf eLf AT WOrk

Exercise 2-2 Your Assertiveness Profile

 

Read each statement carefully. Fill in the most appropriate answer according to the way you typically behave in your work or office environment. Rarely Sometimes Most of   (or Never) the Time  

1. When someone says something that upsets me, hold my feelings in or complain about it later to others.

_____

_____

_____

2. When I’m angry, I fly off the handle.

_____

_____

_____

3. I stand up for my needs and interests at work and acknowledge the needs and interests of others.

_____

_____

_____

4. It’s a competitive world, so I strive to get mine while I can.

_____

_____

_____

5. I take calculated risks and view my mistakes as a learning experience.

_____

_____

_____

6. I smooth things over to keep the peace.

_____

_____

_____

7. When someone says something that upsets me, I inform him or her of my feelings right away.

_____

_____

_____

8. When I criticize someone, I start with the word “you,” as in, “You never come to meetings on time.”

_____

_____

_____

9. I replay upsetting conversations or situations over and over in my mind.

_____

_____

_____

10. W hen ita as sub rdinate or to comy -woauthority. rk rke er expresses dissent, I view aochallenge

_____

_____

_____

11. I take responsibility for my decisions and actions at work without blaming others.

_____

_____

_____

12. When someone compliments me, I brush it off.

_____

_____

_____

13. I don’t admit my mistakes to others.

_____

_____

_____

14. I’m reluctant to give negative feedback to my teammates, subordinates, or boss.

_____

_____

_____

15. My s su ubordinates a an nd c co o-workers appear to b be e afraid o off me.

_____

_____

_____

16. I give advice to others when they haven’t asked for it.

_____

_____

_____

17. When someone compliments me, I accept it and say, say, “Thank you.”

_____

_____

_____

18. I find it difficult to ask for feedback on my job performance.

_____

_____

_____

19. In meetings, I express my ideas and listen carefully to the ideas of others.

_____

_____

_____

20. I hesitate to take risks on my job.

_____

_____

_____

21. I put my needs and interests before the needs and interests of others.

_____

_____

_____

22. I welcome construc ructive crit riticism and use it to improve my job performance.

_____

_____

_____

Exercise 2-2 continues on next page.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

 

15

Exercise 2-2 continued from previous page. stim ofe    (oR ra Nreevlyer) Sometimes tM heoT

23. When someone strongly opposes my viewpoint, I back down.

_____

_____

_____

24. When someone says something that upsets me, I respond with sarcasm or a put-down.

_____

_____

_____

25. I respect the opinions of others, even when they disagree with me.

_____

_____

_____

26. In meetings, I keep my ideas to myself.

_____

_____

_____

27. When I do something that hurts someone else, I acknowledge it and apologize, then move on without dwelling on it.

_____

_____

_____

28. I feel uncomfort rta able expressing disagreement with my boss or other authority figures.

_____

_____

_____

29. If someone shouts at me during a disagreement, I shout back.

_____

_____

_____

30. I focus on objective behavior when giving negative feedback.

_____

_____

_____

Y s now that yo’v compltd exc 2-2, yo’ ady to dty yo atv pol at wo. Yo may hav ott a  o that pol a

yo compltd th xc. Bt yo’ll oly ow o  by tally yo co. A yo a lttl vo abot th? i yo a, jt bt th bllt ad ollow th tcto blow. blow. ft, v yol 10 pot o ach “Mot o th Tm” yo mad. Awad 5 pot o ach “somtm”; ad v yol a 0 o ach “raly “raly (o nv).” nxt, total yo co a ollow: (a) Add p yo yo pot o tatmt # 1, 6, 9, 12, 14, 18, 20, 23, 26, ad 28. Th pt th pav mod. Yo hht pobl total co  100. rcod your rcod  your passive score h: score h: ______  (b) Add p yo yo pot o tatmt # 2, 4, 8, 10, 13, 15, 16, 21, 24, ad 29. Th pt th av av mod. Yo hht pobl co  100.   rcod your aggressive rcod your aggressive score h: score h: ______  (c) now add yo pot o tatmt # 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27,  

ad Th pt th atv mod. Yo hht pobl total30.  100. rcod your assertive score h: rcod your score h: ______   © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

16  

AsserTing YOurs OurseLf eLf AT WOrk

ip Y s u th ollow tabl to tpt yo co, b wth th pav mod. Mode Passive

Points

 

90-100

Extremely high passive

80-89

Highly passive

70-79

Moderately high passive

55-69

Moderately passive

40-54

Low-moderate passive

Less than 40 Aggressive

Profile

90-100

Mildly passive Extremely high aggressive

80-89

Highly aggressive

70-79

Moderately high aggressive

55-69 40-54

Moderately a ag ggressive Low-moderate aggressive

Less than 40 Assertive

Mildly aggressive

90-100

Extremely high asser tive

80-89

Highly asser tive

70-79

Moderately high asser tive

55-69

Moderately asser tive

40-54

Low-moderate asser tive

Less than 40

Mildly asser tive

How dd yo co? i yo cod  th hh h h a o th pav mod o th av mod, mod, loo at th th tatmt yo mad “Mot o th Tm” ad “somtm.” Th dcb bhavo ad atttd you atttd you need to change change or  avoid  avoid   yo w wat at to b mo atv. nxt, tdy tdy th tatmt that  dcat dcat th atv mod (# 3, 5, 7, 11, 17, 19, 22, 25, 27, ad 30). Th dcb bhavo ad atttd yo hold actvly to yo habt. i yohav cod  th hh a oll th atv mod (80dvlop o hh), alady xcllt atv  may aa. Yo Yo may wat to  th co co  to hac tho ll, whch cld vbal, ovbal, ovbal, ad mltcltal aatv tv. . i yo cod 70 o l o th atv mod, loo at tatmt yo mad “somtm” o “raly.” Th Th  pt oppott o mpovmt. mpovmt. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

 

17

Think About It . . .   Now that you’ve determined you own assertiveness asser tiveness profile, think about the profiles profil es of at least three of your subordinates. How do you think they would score (moderately assertive, mildly passive, aggressive) on the same same self-assessment test? Write in their names and your best guess at their profiles below.

1. ___ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ __

______ _________ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ____ _

2. ___ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ __

______ _________ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ____ _

3. ___ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ _____ __

______ _________ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ____ _

If you understand their profiles, you will be in a better position to give them feedback, feedback, manage disagreements, select team members for projects, and so forth.

m Y m   s Althoh atv  th bt all-aod mod o woplac ctv, tv , th a tm wh t may ma  to adopt th a pav p av (o-atv) (o-a tv) o av mod. f fo o xampl, yo co-wo ha a c chld ad d to ta th xt day o. Yo had plad to b ot o th oc that day o clt call, bt pct that po’ d to b hom ad povd ca. Yo chdl yo appotmt ad tll yo cowo ot to woy abot ta th day o. i mov om atv to o-atv mod, yo’v pt yo co-wo’ d bo yo ow bca yo ca abot yo lo-tm latohp wth that mploy. Av A v  alo appopat omtm—o xampl, d a mcy. mcy. Lt’ ay that a mploy mploy ha all dow th ta. H may hav bo bo, had a coco, o d hat al. no o ow h codto ad val popl h to h ad, bt claly thy do’t ow what thy’ do. Bca yo’v had xtv t ad ta ad xpc, yo ph thm ad ad avly ta cotol, hot od a yo td to th jd po: “Bll, call 9-11 ad t a amblac h ht away away.. sally, sally,  to th cl clot ot ad b two havy coat; w do’t wat hm o to hoc.” Mov om th atv to th av mod ma pct   th ca. Oth popl wll ally wlcom yo av “ta cha” acto  a mcy. Av bhavo may alo b appopat wh omo  avly ty to volat yo  l-pct o cla ht. W’ll hav mo o th  Chapt 8, whch xpla how to hadl dclt popl ad th oc “blly.” “blly.”

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18  

AsserTing YOurs OurseLf eLf AT WOrk

Wha hat t influences Your assertiveness mode? now that yo’v dtd yo popty o b pav, atv, o av, t’ tm to cod th lc that hav dd yo towad that patcla mod o bhavo. i yo’ a pa patcla pav v o a av v typ ad wat to cha, yo that maycom b a “What m th Thalt l-dtad omyol, aw thatmad qto wll way?” hlp yo both yo bhavo ad yo commcato mod to o that  mo ctv. Popl P opl a podct o both tc ad xpc: at ad t. g dtm o d, d, ac, body typ, tllc, popty o cta da, y colo, colo, ad oth tat. tat . som talt may b htd a wll. gtc htac may alo lc o poalt ad bhavo—althoh th xtt o that lc  a matt o dbat. dba t. W W a alo podct po dct o o xpc—amly ad cltal tt, l-hap vt, tacto wth oth, ad o oth. Whth at o t  to  om o poalt, chaact, ad bhavo  a bjct o damt ad  claly byod th cop o th co. Howv,  bcom mo lawa, t’ hlpl to loo at th awa, th tat w’v htd ad how th l lc c o lv. exc 2-3 o pa 19 v yo a oppotty to do that. no o wll a th tc lc  th am way. O po who wt “mal”  th d ow may dty th tat a a oc o potv l, xpla that h moth wa a potv ol modl who ov ovcam cam may ca obtacl a a phyct, ad bcam a to po  th poc. i h vw, vw, b mal ha ha addd to h l-codc. l-co dc. Aoth woma wth a dt t o xpc may ma th mal tat a a atv. i cotat to tc tat, oth lc o o lv, ch a ococoomc tat, laa, dcato, lo, ad ltyl tm om o clt ad vomt. i yo’ a Aca-Amca mal om th Mdwt bo to a amly o mdcal docto, yo wll hav had dt xpc ad oppott tha a wht mal bo to a amly o Appalacha Appalacha coal m. i yo’ th chld o a alcoholc pat, yo’ll mot lly hav a dt otloo o l tha yo wold  yo had pat who w modat d. W’ dalt dt had  l. nvthl, w ca play tho had mo ctvly  w dtad th vomtal ad cltal lc  o lv. exc 2-4 o pa 20 v yo a oppotty to ot ad th abot tho lc. A wth th pvo xc lat to htd tat, ach podt’ pol ad commt a bod to b q. fo fo xampl, a blal po who domat clt  Hpac Hpa c (ad  lv  th utd stat) may pot potv l towad th cltal bacod, ad blv that t add to h l-codc. Aoth po om th am cltal bacod may pot th oppot, ay that lv l v btw btw th two clt (Hpac ad Alo) ha b co ad ha dtactd om h l-codc ad l-tm. How dd yo pod to th cltal/vomtal c ltal/vomtal tat? Ha com-

plt th xc tmlatd yo th abot how yo bacod ha hapd yo poto o th pav-atv pav-atv-a -av v cotm? AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

Exercise 2-3 Identifying Life Influencers: Inf luencers: Genetic Traits Traits

 

Fill in the genetic traits below. Then, evaluate your feelings about each one. Do you have positive, negative, or ambivalent feelings about these? Do you belie believe ve that these traits add add to or detr detract act from y your our self-confidence and self-esteem? Why?

 © A  m  e r  i    c   a n M  a n h   a  g  t    t    e  p m :   /    /   w  e n w  t   w A  .  s   a m  o  s   c   a i   n  a  e  t   i    t    o .  o n r  .  g A   /   l   l   r  i    g h   t    s  r   e  s   e r  v   e  d  .

Trait

Description  

Positive Feelings  Positive (Yes or No) 

Negative Feelings  (Yes or No) 

Ambivalent Feelings (Yes or No) 

Why? 

Affects Self-confidence/  Esteem Estee m (Yes (Yes or No) 

Intelligence Talent #1 Talent #2  P 

Gender

 r  O  g  r  e   s   s 

Race

 B   e   g  i    n  s   W  i    T  H

Height

 s 

Body Type

 e   L   f 

 A 

Health

 W  A   r  e   n  e   s   s 

(Inherited) Voice Other

 1    9  

 

2  

Exercise 2-4 Identifying Your Life Influencers: Cultural and Environmental Factors

 0  

 

 

Fill in the factors below. below. Then, evaluate your feelings about each. Do you have positive, negative, or mixed feelings about these? Do you believe that they add to detract from your self-confidence and self-esteem? Why? (Note: Some influencers, such as sexual orientation, have a profound impact on our lives. Yet, whether they derive from genetic o orr environmental factors is uncertain. T To o explore these influencers, use an “Other” category categor y in Exercise 2-3 or 2-4, or both. There are no right or wrong choices here.) Cultural/  Environmental Factors  Birthplace/other places of h  A  M  t    t   A   p :   C   /    /   w  O w M w   .  S   a m  e l   f    a  S   s   t    e  u l    d  f    s   y   t   P   u  d  r   y   o .  g  o r  r   a  g

residence (such as urban, rural) Dominant culture (such as Latino, Celtic, Asian) Language(s) Religion Education

Description 

Positive Feelings  Negative Feelings  Ambivalent (Yes or No)  (Yes or No)  Feelings (Yes or No) 

Why? 

Affects Self-confidence/  Esteem (Yes or No) 

 A   s   s   e   r  T  i    n  g

 Y   O  u  r  s   e   L   f   A   T

 W  O  r  k

 /   m

Socio-economic status (such as upper middle class) Occupation (such as blue-collar, blue-collar, professional) Family structure and size (such as nuclear,, extended, one-parent) nuclear

Marital status Lifestyle (such as family, social, professional, spiritual)

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

 

21

childhood exPeriences Th poc o la how to lv ad tact wth o’ clt ad amly tct  calld socialization . it’ a poc that cot a vt ad xpc hap o lv. W’ at o mot mpoabl ta, howv, d aly chldhood, wth th boda o o hom ad mmv dat aml. Th ca w c cv v  all that w ow; w lac ay compao wth whch to valat t ad dtm dt m whth t’ ood, bad, o  btw. By th tm w mov mov byod o bacyad ad hav oth xp xpc, c, may o o atttd, bhavo patt, ad pcpto hav b omd. Majo vt  aly l poodly hap adlt atttd ad bhavo. Tho, valat valat tho vt add aoth lay o dtad d tad  o qt o l-owld ( exc 2-5).

Exercise 2-5 Identifying Life Influencers: Key Milestones of Childhood

 

1.Use this exercise to identify four key milestones of your childhood, both positive and negative. 2.Number the milestones in order of the most  most influential influential (1 is highest) to the least  least influential. influential. 3.Describe the insights this exploration reveals to you. Positive Milestones

Rank

Negative Milestones

Milestone 1:

Milestone 1:

Milestone 2:

Milestone 2:

Rank  

Milestone 3:

Milestone 3:

Milestone 4:

Milestone 4:

Exercise 2-5 continues on next page.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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Exercise 2-5 continued from previous page. Each person’s milestones mil estones will be uni unique. que. Consider this abbreviated example of Exercise 2-5 below. Positive Milestones

Rank

Milestone 1:

3

First plane flight. Trip to  Disney World with Grandpa  and Mom. (I was 6.) One of   t  the he ha happpiest piest time timess of of my li life. Milestone 2:

Milestone 1:

Rank  

3

Kindergarten teacher punished   me for for somet somethi hinng I did didn’t do. Made me stand in the corner  and kept me in at recess. I felt humiliated. 5

Second piano recital when I  was 8. Won award.

Negative Milestones

Milestone 2:

5

First piano recital when I  was 7. Froz roze and ran ran from   the  the st stage. age.

Th potv potv ad at atv v mlto o th po’ aly chldhood— 

cc, al, o dobt a lc o h lat appoach to poplad adlatohp -ta. What abothad yo? it’ mpotat to xplo th typ o th ca w cvd cvd a chld; whth t wa motly potv o atv, o whth w appcat, t, o hav mxd mxd l abot t, th ca co copoat poat th bhavoal ad commcato tyl w ot modl  o adlt latohp, to cld tho at wo. At At  all, that’ what w ow ow.. ev popl who dplo dplo  th way thy w tatd a chld, ad who vow v to tat ayo l that way, ot do bca thy ollow th modl to whch thy w w  xpctd to coom. Bd pat ad oth amly mmb, athoty  ch a tach, lad, coach, adlv, mto alod mpact o wold vw. Wh wptal xplo th xplo lc  o w w may bhavoal bhavoa l patt, commcato tyl, bl, ad motoal po that w’v w’v adoptd a o ow—omtm to o bt ad omtm ot ( exc 2-6).

Exercise 2-6 Identifying Your Your Life Influencers: Behavioral Models

 

In the spaces below, list adjectives that describe the behavioral styles of the primary behavioral models in your life. Were they affirming, controlling, loving, consistent, attentive attentive,, instructional, cri crittical, punitive, inconsistent, encouraging, inspiring, inspiri ng, autocratic, judgmental, forgiving, doting, tyrannical, sacrificing, positive, negative, etc.? List as many adjectives as apply, apply, including ones not listed here. Once you’ve done that, describe your reaction and insights. Exercise 2-6 continues on next page. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

23

Exercise 2-6 continued from previous page. Finally, write down the adjectives that best describe your behavioral style. What connection(s) Finally, do you see between that style and the styles of your behavioral models? (a) My mother’s behavioral style:

(b) My father’s behavioral style:

(c) My caregiver’s behavioral style (if applicable):

(d) Other key role model’s behavioral style (identify role and describe):

(e) Other key role model’s behavioral style (identify role and describe):

(f) Reaction/Insights:

(g) My behavioral style:

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a y pzz by w  w    w   e 2-6? h   p p   p. racto/iht:

My role models tilt toward controlling, unaffirming, and   neggative.  ne ative. Mot Mothe herr was was lovi loving and and af affir firmin ming, but but timid. timid. She She did   nott stan  no standd uupp fo forr he herrself self wit withh Dad Dad and and Unc Uncle le E Ed—o d—orr fo forr me  and myteache brother Mr. our  sc  scie ience nce teac her, r, helped heand lpedsister. me gai ain n some soBabson, me con confidence, fide nce,middle-school  eevven tho thoug ugh  h   girrls we  gi weren’t ren’t eenc ncou ourraged to exce xcell iinn scie science nce or math. math. My bhavoal tyl:

Controlling, timid, negative, honest, caring, demanding of   myself  myse lf and and ot othe herrs. I see a co connnectio nectionn betw betwee eenn my titimidity midity and  and   my mot mother’s her’s timidit timidityy and and bet betw wee eenn my fat father’s her’s and and unc uncle’s  controlling and demanding behavior. the transference traP udtad o lc hlp  coz th d to whch w cay chldhood pcpto o th wold to o adlt lv. A w’v dcd, a po’ tacto a lmtd pmaly to cav cav  ad th od commty o latv, tach, ad hbo d o omatv ya. W omatv W abob—ad ally adopt—th val ad bl ad way o tact wth oth. O bhavo ad mthod o commcato wth oth a a  ot omd d tho aly ya. A w ow p, o accptac by oth ot dpd o how wll w adh to th val ad tadad. Th val ad tadad om o ablty val a blty to “t ” wth octy ad t alo a adlt. evtally, w mt, ad abot, bcom awa o, o wo wth popl om oth bacod ad clt. i w am that o val, bl, ad tadad a po, o  w jd th bhavo bad o o tadad, w’ w’ a  what athopolo athopolot t call ethnoc ethnocentric entric thinki thinking  ng . W’ “ta” o val ad tadad to thm. Ad wh th popl do’t ma p  tm o o val o tadad, w am that “th’ omth wo wth th popl.” Tac  th oot o th ba ad pjdc that ta at latohp—btw dvdal, op, ad ato—ad  th oot o th “i’m btt tha yo” atttd. Wh w a atv, w tad p oThat o o  val ad “pct tada tadad d whl pct pct  th val ad tadad o oth. lat pat, th val ad tadad o oth,”  ot oott. i h boo, The Road Less Traveled , M. scott Pc wt abot tac om th pychatc pot o vw vw,, whch h d a “that t o way o pcv ad pod to th wold whch  dvlopd  chldhood ad whch  ally tly appopat to th chldhood vomt . . . bt whch  appopatly tad to th adlt vomt” (Pc,

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PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

 

25

1978). Pc dcb th dclt o a bht compt tchca who movd mov d om job to job thohot h ca ad who w had jt lt hm. A a chld, th tchca’ pat pomd hm may th ad th ald to lll thm, o at aoth. O ya thy actally oot h bthday. To avod b dappotd, h lad to accpt th alty o h pat’ hotcom adtotoadtt pom. A a adlt, h tad th patal dtt dttth o popl  al, a tac that pt hm om hav a clo, lov latohp wth h w ad ccl tacto at wo. Whl t’ t’ mpota mpotatt to xam th alty o o chld chldhood hood xpc, t’ qally mpotat to avod pojct that alty oto o adlt tacto. To To b a atv tv, , w d to pct ach po a a q dvdal who ha h o h ow pcpto o th wold ad h o h ow t o val, bl, ad tadad. W d to loo at ach po’ bhavo objctvly ad ach tato o t mt. i do th, w’ll p o balac ad avod th tac tap.

Think About It . . .   1. Write about som some e of the fee feelings lings and percept perceptions ions you’v you’ve e carried with you int into o adult lif life e and transferred onto someone else or onto people as a group.

2. If any of these ffeelings eelings or perception perceptions s are negative negative,, identify at least one step you can take take to limit this transference in the future.

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Perfectionism Perfectionism  Perfectionism   th bl that w o oth mt b pct o ht all o th tm. Pctot ba th dtty o b Whl  pcto m a obl oal,ad ll-woth tac, t tpct.  th way o  o tacto. s pcto  dt om tv o xcllc  o wo. Pctot hav tobl accpt th ow mta mta  ad th mta o oth. Thy play mta ov ad ov  th md, atvly tv ly bat p thmlv ad oth oth   th poc. Thy Thy t achabl achabl  oal, ad th, al o all hot o o ma mta, pt o do th th thy d to do to ach tho oal. eathl wll coloz c oloz Ma bo pctot p ctot wl wlll ta . That may b a xaato, bt t t at th tth bca pctom pcto m volv volv  mo tha a ac obo wth mta ad oal. it dlv dp to th pych at th lvl o l-tm.

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i th woplac, pctom ca ca may poblm: p oblm: A tam pd too mch tm batom th pct olto to a poblm. A compay dlay lach t w podct bca th podct lac all th “bll ad whtl” v v thoh com com may oly wat th bac. A maa  aad to ty w da. A td mploy hold bac d mt, htat to pa p. A co-wo co-wo all apat d cot cotctv ctv ctcm. A dpatmt pd o mch tm oc o mta ad a blam that t v t aod to aalyz tho mta ad d way to avod thm  th t. Th poblm o pctom ca b ovcom ovcom  w:

• • • • •

st hh tadad v a w dty ad ov o v o hotcom. Dvlop pactcal acto tp t p tow towad ad o oal. Val olv aa wo  po. Pactc coto co to mpovmt. Acowld mta ad tat thm a la xpc that ma

 btt ad to. to. W hlp oth oth  ovcom pcto p ctom m wh w pot ot what thy do wll. W ca d thm thoh th dap dappotmt potmt by hlp thm dcov (bt ot tll thm) how to coct th mta ad do btt th xt tm. Mot o all, w ca am th at woth a dvdal ad lt thm ow that, howv thy vw thmlv ad th tato, w coz th woth—law ad all. it ta tm ad ot to ma th tato om pctom, o to hlp ta that joy. Yt, t  tm ad ot wll pt.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

 

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Think About It . . .   What’s your own experience with perfectionism? How did you respond to mistakes you made as a child and teenager? Did you try to cover up mistakes? Did you feel the need to alwa always ys be right? Were you forgiving forgiving of yourself? Did you tr try y to find out why you made mistakes and how future occurrences could be avoided?

How did your parents and other behavioral behavioral models respond to your mistakes? Did they help you work through them? How did their response affect you?

How do you respond to mistakes you make today? Do you dwell on them, beat yourself up because of them, or learn from them? Does making a mistake encourage encourage you to av avoid oid risk-taking?

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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the role of attitude O atttd towad towad l—whth w td to b optmtc o pmtc, o whth w loo at otcom a hal-ll o hal-mpty la—act o ablty to bcom atv ad o wll to ta tp cay to t th. To b atv, w mt blv  th poblty o th pobablty that w’ll ccd  tad p o o d ad tt. i i  w a domatd by atv atv th o th vw that th la  la  hal mpty mpty,, w a lly to tad p o olv: o lv: “W “Why hy o to th tobl? i ca’t w.” O th oth had, potv th—th vw that th la  hal ll—v  th coa ad ctv w d to p what w wat. so, a yo mov tp-by-tp towad mo atv bhavo, bhavo, pactc al alty-bad ty-bad optmm. optm m.

Think About It . . . How do you view the world and your circumstances most of the time? Like a half-full glass of water? Half-empty? Neither?

How does your worldview affect your willingness to stand up for what matters to you—and take risks?

self-est stee eem m an and d self-confidence Whl yo’ xplo l lc, cod yo l-tm ad lcodc. Self-esteem  Self-esteem   th way yo vw yo yo woth a a hma b ad th ht ht, whl self-confidence  self-confidence   yo “ o ablty”—th bl  yo hav hav  yo ablty to ach a oal o to pom a ta wll.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

PrOgress Begi egins ns WiT WiTH H seLf-AWAreness  

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it’ pobl to l codt abot yo ablt ad pomac ad tll lac a  o yo complt woth. fo fo xampl, yo may may hav a ac o “cch” mb, ad ow that yo do th wll; vthl, yo

a lctat to a o a a a o a btt oc o c tato. Yo Yo may hav catv mat da ad xp thm o-o-o, tcd away  yo cbcl, bt yo p thm to yol d mt bca yo p to b vbl, allow—o yo yo th—yo job pomac pa o tl tl.. To Yo b atv a tv, , yo l cod codt abot whatta. yo Howv, do ad alo l wothy. may l thatmt yo hav lttl ot th at th yo’ll d yo codc ad l-tm ow a yo ta ach tp towad atv bhavo.

Th chapt  dvotd to l-awa. it ba by chall yo to dcb th poal oal ad motvato that pomptd yo to ta a co o bcom mo atv. it

re

p

th povdd a l-amt tt that allowd yo,  th chapt’ co mthod, to dty yo ow o th pavatv-av cotm: yo “atv pol.” kow wh yo tad ht ow  a mpotat t tp  tt to wh yo dally wold l to b. it’ alo mpotat to dtad th “l lc” that ot yo to yo ct poto o th cotm. Tho cld yo tc bacod ad cltal ad vomtal acto  yo l, bt alo th lc o pat, cav, tach, ad ol modl. exc  th chapt coad yo to lct o how thy hav actd yo ct lvl o atv a tv. . i addto, yo w ad to loo at oth cotbto cotbto to yo ct atv (o lac tho): pctom, yo  o  optmtm o pmm, l-codc ad l-tm.

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AsserTing YOurs OurseLf eLf AT WOrk

Review Questions  

Th amly poctct o la how to lv lv ad tact wth o’ clt 1.  ad  calld:

1. (c)

(a) ocalz ocalzat ato. o. (b) op dt dtcato cato. . (c (c)) adapt adaptat ato o.. (d) homo homo zat zato. o.   2.  Whch o th ollow  a vomtal lc? (a (a)) Tal al tt (b) edcat edcato o lv lvl l (c) itll itll c c (d (d)) rac ac   3.  Adlt bhavo ad om o commcato a ot omd: (a) adoml adomly y. (b) almot alway alway b by y tamatc adlt xpc. xpc. (c) d d th th aly aly y ya a o l. (d) by th th dcato dcato y ytm. tm.

2. (b)

3. (c)

  4.  Whch o th ollow cold b a o-tc lc o atv lvl? (a (a)) Ha Ha colo colo (b) soco-coom soco-coomc c tat tat (c (c)) gd gd  (d) ethc ethcty ty

4. (b)

  5.  __________________________  a xampl o a tcally htd tat. (a) A pm pmtc tc o otlo tloo o (b (b)) Body Body typ typ (c) Th ablty to wo wt wth h oth collaboat collaboatvl vly y (d) Th lv lvl l o phycal t t 

5. (b)

Do you have questions? Comments? Need clarification? Call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or e-mail at [email protected]. [email protected]. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 



Biing Y Aivn

Learning Objectives  Objectives  By the e  thi chapte, y h be abe t:

• Ietiy y ee, wat, iteet, a a•

e. Ietiy y ht-tem, itemeiate, a -tem a.

i a tateie t • Appy etiee eba eti cmmicati. c mmicati. • Appy i a tateie t

eep aeep a-

etiee witte cmmicati. eti

I the pei chapte  thi c ce, e, y ietiie y aeti aetiee ee pie a y ie’ ey iece. Y i thi t ai eepe iiht a e-

wee—the it tep i y wth a a aetie iiia. Y’e w eay  the ext tep. Thi chapte a the tw chapte that w pie ce ccept that wi hep y becme me aetie i y thht a acti. Bth ae imptat a ae imia t the mi-by cecti that aect phyica a meta heath. Aetie attite ppt aeti ae tiee behai, behai, which ppt aetie thht, which ppt aetie behai, a  th. Ee , a Abeti a Emm pit t, “me pepe ep me eaiy t citie (thii) iteeti, the t behaia (acti) iteeti” (Abeti a Emm, E mm, 1995). Theee, Theee, they ecmme that y “pt mt  y eey it whichee i mt hep t you.” (Ibid .).)

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32  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Your Needs, WANts, I Nterests, VAlues, ANd GoAls Y ca’t thi aa  act aetiey ti y eta what matte matte  t y i y pea a peia p eia ie. Hee we eie “what matte” a y ee, wat, iteet, ae, a a. Tethe, they pie the ee   ppe that wi p y twa a etiati that y must ta p , ee whe the i et th.

N Y ee ae the thi y ea a essential for basic physical and mental  survival. The pychit Abaham Maw ciie thee i hi w am hieachy  ee (Exhibit 3-1) which bei with the mt baic, phyica ee ch a  a wate a ace t peiey peiey hihe ee ee ch a aety a ecity, e a a ee  bei t the p, eeteem that cme m epect a eciti  e’ accmpihmet, a—at the ey tp—e-actaizati, what e ee he  he wa b t  i ie i e (Maw, (Maw, 1943). Acci Acc i t Maw’ they, they, a hihe ee ee becme imptat y whe we ee ee ae atiie. f exampe, the ee  e-actaizati becme imptat whe a ee ee i the hieachy hae bee tae cae . f exampe, y w’t ee a ee 

e-eteem  e-actaizati i y ha t eate i thee ay (phyiica ee)  i y wee bei tae tae by a a  teet teet th (aety ee). Whatee Whate e y ee, aetiee eqie that y ta p  them. Ay time they ae theatee, a aam be h  i y hea.

Think About It . . .   Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is a good tool for thinking about what matters to us at different stages of our lives. Take a look at Exhibit 3-1 and then answer the question: Where are you located on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs?

Wan I ctat t ee, wat ae eie ch a ii t eat e eati t ie. i e. They They ice the awe t ch qeti a: What type  ? What i  hete? What type  ca  the taptati? Hw mch eep  heathcae? What ee  cia ctact  cia tat? Pepe te ce wat with ee. Whie thee may be me eap, eap, wat ae ptia; ee ae t. Ecmit te  that pepe hae imite wat. They et me thi they wat a the wat me a me. Wat ae a hihy mtiAMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

 

xhibit 3-1 Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Self-Actualization Self-Esteem Love & Belonging Safety

 

33

Safety Physiological

atia. A ay tptch aepe wi te y, they e t pepe’ wat, athe tha t thei ee. Theee, Theee, wat hae a teme impact   ie. I the eam  aetiee, it’ imptat t piitize  wat, becae the that matte mt ae thi  which we wi mt iey tae a t ta.

In Iteet ae thi t which we caim cai m me iht, tite,  ea  ea hae—thi that ae iheety  a  which which we ee ee  t etiate. etiate. A epatmet maae,  exampe, ha a iteet i ecii that wi aect the abiity t pem hi  he tie. Th, the maae, a t the maae’ b, ha iht t iect the actiitie ay iect ept ep t b a the iht t cctthe pemace appaia  aybiate. I the wee t te the maae’ pepe what t ,  t te them t “Cme t me i y ee aymaae’ thi,” the maae w hae the iht t ta p t the b a aet the iht t peie hi  he w pepe. uaetie ( paie) pepe may t hae ietiie the iht that matte t them. o they bac w t eaiy whe thei iht ae chaee. Aeie pepe,  the the ha, wi by caim thei iht a hae ew qam abt iii  the iht  the. A exampe w w be a exectie tei the iect ept  e  hi  he maae what t . With epect t the wpace, what iteet a iht ae we tai abt? Eey pe ha a iteet i maitaii ct e wpace actiitie  which he  he i iciay  iciay epibe. liewie, eeye eeye ha a iht t: teate  aiy a with epect. •  Be teate •  Expe hi  he iea. t  the jb we. •  Hae the ece eee t  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

•  Be ambiti a et pea a caee a. -w epibiitie. •  Hae time  amiy a -w

A Abeti a Emm te: “Each   ha the iht t be a t expe ee, a t ee  (t pwee  ity) abt i , a  a we  t ht the i the pce” (Abeti a Em, 1995). Tai a ta, caimi y iht, aa  ptecti what matte matte  t y witht hami mee ee i the eece  thii a acti aetie aetiey y..

Va vae ae the abtact iea which we ahee a h  t, a  which we wih t be w. The They y epeet the ce   hmaity. T Typica ypica ae ice iteity, ttwthie, aie, a yaty. sme ae matte me t cetai pepe a cte tha the. I a ie itati, pepe wi ea me tw twa a e ae tha athe, ee ee  thh they may pe bth (Bwe a keeey, keeey, 2006). f exampe, a amiy may tit twa qaity  ie e phyica ie whe mai the iict ecii t p the p  the etiat a e e wh bai-ea. A etiat che cpeati e  a cea icty i a i ab ettemet i e tmay bi a eatihip that wi tethe he cmpay e the  tem. Becae ae pie the bai  ecii-mai a behai, it’ imptat t w which e matte the mt. Thi wi hep y eta e ta why y ecie i a  e ae e athe i a patica cicmtace, a why mee ee may ecie the ppite. ftheme, ecizi y ce ae wi hep y etabih the baie  acceptabe a acceptabe behai  the the  twa twa y a the baie  y behai twa the. Execie 3-1 i ie e y a pptity pp tity t ctempate y iqe et  ee, wat wat,, iteet, a ae.

Exercise 3-1 Identify Your Your Needs, Wants, Wants, Interests, and Values Values

 

1. Fill in three  three entries entries under each category below in order of preference. These should be the things that matter most to you, with number 1 being the most important. impor tant. 2. Fill in the a appro pproximat ximate e incom income e in the “Ne “Needs” eds” an and d “W “Wants ants”” categ categories ories..

Needs

1. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Approx. Income Needed: ____________________________

Exercise 3-1 continues on next page. AMACOM Self Study Program

http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

 

35

Exercise 3-1 continued from previous page. Wants (Desires)

1. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 2. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 3. _________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ____________________ Approx. Income Needed: ____________________________

Interests (Things you want to protect)

1. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 2. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 3. _________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ____________________

Values 1. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 2. __________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ___________________ 3. _________________________________ _____________________________________________________ ____________________

How did you complete Exercise 3-1? Each person will have his or her own set of needs, wants, interests, and values. Here’s a sample response that might trigger your assertiveness thinking. Needs

Wants (Desires)

Food  2. Shelter  3. Healthcare/medication  Approx. Income Needed: $35,000 1.

1.

A more spacious home in a better neighborhood 

2.

World travel (starting with New Zealand) A graduate degree 

3.

Approx. Income Needed:

$75,000

Exercise 3-1 continues on next page.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Exercise 3-1 continued from previous page. Interests (Things you want to protect)

1. 2. 3.

Values

1. 2. 3. 3.

To be treated with respect  To be treated fairly My reputation  Honesty Trustworthiness  Respect for others  Personal responsibility

Your GoAls A a i methi that y cciy aim a im t achiee i the te—a ei maaemet piti, iacia iepeece, a pace i the ymphy cheta, etc. Pethe pe typicay eea a, me pea, me amiy-eate, aPepe w- hae caee-eate. A me a hae eate imptace tha the. Y hihet w a,  exampe, may be t becme vice Peiet  opeati, whie y ecay w a may be t becme a bette eeat. d y hae cci a at w a tie ti e  w? Hae y cciy piitize them? oe e execie i t ietiy a wite w y a. di thi

wi bi tcte t y a a pie a iecti  y ie’ jey. jey. Appach a-etti i whatee mae w bet  y. Y miht,  itace, baitm bait m a  a y yew ew pa witht imiti  cei cei them. set the pa aie  a ay  tw a baitm aai  a ew heet  pape pape.. The, eiew y it a te the imiaitie a iimiaitie. A a a eimiate the a the piit me y. Ai y a t cateie, ch a pea, caee, a iacia (ftai a Ath, 1990), a, i aiti, ietiy which a y wat wat t achiee withi a patica pa tica time ame. Y may a i it hep t piitize each a a w, meim,  hih—  which wi ie y whe a cict. f exampe, y may hae a tem caee a  becmi the Chie fiacia oice  a fte 500 cmpay a a itemeiate pea a  attei each  y y  ahte’ chi ccet. Thee appea t be i cict becae the path t becmi a Cfo at a fte 500 cmpay ema a w cmmitmet that may imit the pea time y hae with y amiy. I a ieih, e   thee a wi hae a hihe piity  y tha the the. nti which y pee wi hep y ajt y a w  me time i the te. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

37

Hwee y et y a, whethe y baitm them  t, the act  witi them w tam y a it ccete taet twa which y’ aim te thht a acti. s, et’ bei. I the ext pat  thi chapte, y jb i t ietiy y ht-tem, itemeiate, a tem a, a we a a i a catey that may be amiia t y—  eacy a.

s-tm Ga sht-tem a ae the y wat t accmpih withi a yea—a ae pibe t accmpih. getti a meica eee, i y’ y’e e t aeay i meica ch, i t a iabe ht-tem a. I y aeay hae a meica eee, iihi y itehip i. Thi may eem bi, bt the pit i t ai “pie-i-the-y” a-etti. Bei eaitic i the it tep twa pci ea accmpihmet that bte e-eteem a aetiee. I aiti t bei eaitic, et a im ate  meeti each ht-tem a. othewie, thee a may ip by a   e e it the wi yea. yea. Inmia Ga I eea, thi  immeiate a a thi y wat wat t hae  t accmpih withi the ext i iee t te yea. fie  te yea ca pa me qicy

tha y thi,  ’t pt  w  thee a. Y Y  ee t pa  a bei wi twa them w.

lng-tm Ga l-tem a ietiy what y wat t hae  accmpih withi the ext te t twety yea. Thi ca be a mt etie time i y ie, a time whe y expeiece, iiht, a taii ppe y t peate at pea ee  pemace. f y -tem a, aim hih. lgacy Ga The mt pwe a catey ctai eacy a. Thee ae achieemet  which y mt wih t be emembee. Thee ae the thi y w wat y y e e, c-we, c-we, a eihb t wite i y epitaph. Thi qeti may eem macabe, bt ai it i ey e. Ietiyi Ietiyi  y eacy a wi hep y et piitie a ccetate  what ty matte t y. With thi a eaie ici  a i mi, cmpete Execie 3-2  pae 38.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

 3    8    

Exercise 3-2 Your Goals Worksheet

 

 A   s   s   E   r  T  I    n  g

1. Fill in your short-term, intermediate, intermediate, long-term, and legacy goals for each category category.. Limit your list to three goals for for each category. category. 2. Prioritize Prioritize each goal— goal—high high (H), medium medium (M (M), ), o orr lo low w (L). (L).

 Y   o  u  r  s   E   l   f   A   T

3. Compare you yourr personal, c career areer,, and financial goals with the priorities you’ve assigned. Ideally, Ideally, your goals and priorities will be compatible. If they aren’t, adjust either the goal or the priority. Goal Type h  A  M  t    t   A   p :   /    C   /   w  O w M w   .  S   a m  e l   f    a  S   s   t    e  u l    d  f    s   y   t   P   u  d  r   y   o .  g  o r  r   a  g  /   m

Short-Term Goals (within 1 year)

Intermediate Goals (within 5 to 10 years)

Personal

Visit New York by 7/12 

H

M

L

Career

X Get a pr promoti motioon by by  end  end of year  year 

H

M

L

Financial

X Rebalance my 401-K  po  portfoli folioo bbyy yea yearr en end 

H

M

X

L

 W  o  r  k

Long-term Goals (within 10 to 20 years) Legacy Goals (things for which you hope to be remembered)

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

 

39

Hw i y cmpete the a execie? Ae y a cmpatibe,  i me ethii a ajtmet i e? nw tae a mite t cie y i, taet, a pea capabiitie. Ae thee iciet t et y whee y wat t be? The Thi Abt It actiity bew wi hep y awe that qeti.

Think About It . . .   1. What s skills kills and ttalent alents s must I d dev evelop elop mor more e fully in o order rder to rreach each m my y goals goals? ?

2. What ed educati ucation, on, tr training aining,, and exp experienc erience e must I acq acquire uire or enh enhance ance in ord order er to reac reach h my goals?

3. What c career areer p path ath am I c curre urrently ntly on? What c career areer p path ath cha change, nge, if any any,, must I mak make e in order to achieve my work-life goals?

“Think About It” continues on next page.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

40  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Think About It continued from previous page.

4. Is my c current urrent g geograp eographical hical locati location on compat compatible ible with my goals goals? ? If not, where do I need to liv live? e?

speAkING up for WhA hAt t MAtter tters s to You At Work nw that y’e ietiie y ee, wat, iteet, ae, a a, pep epae ye t “pea p”  thei beha—that i, t cmmicate what matte t y. speai p i a imptat tep twa becmi me aetie.

engag in a piiv Inna diag Bee y pea p t the, y y mt ea t pea p t ye. ye . Intrapersonal  cmmicati  the cmmicati y hae with ye, ecibe the i iae i y hea m the time y wae p i the mi ti y  t be. Thi itea iae may be baey peceptibe t y, a it may be eatie: “Thee y  aai, ptti y t i y mth. What’ the matte with y?” It may be pitie: “That wa a aweme iea y came p. g  y!” It may be mixe: “I ei eiee ee a i peetati. The aiece wa wa with me a a the way . . . I thi.” Pimaiy, aetie pepe ee twa eatie itea iae whie aetie pepe h het a pitie pitie ceati with themee, i what hma behaiit d. dei Waitey ca “wie’ e-ta” (Waitey, 1995). Thee The e ic ice: e:

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BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

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“Pitie e e-eteem” e-eteem” ta, ch a “I ie mye mye ” e “I’ “I’  athe be •  “Piti

mee ee.” “Piti itiee e-ct” ta, ch a “I mae it happe  me” e “It a•  “P way wa y happe t me.” “Pitie e e-expectacy” ta, ch a “g tay tay,, bette tmw tmw.. next •  “Piti time I’ et it iht” e “With my c, I ew it w ai.”

Whe y ea thee tatemet, y ca ee the pwe  thei iece a eta why y h eae i pitie itea iae a ai the eatie. Imaie i “The litte Tai That C” i the am chie’ ty  the ame ame ai, “I thi I ca’t, I thi I ca’t, I thi I ca’t.” The tai w emai ee tc at the bttm  the hi. I y eae eae i a eati eatie e itea iae, y extei behai wi pbaby eect it. Y’ behae ie y thi. T becme me aetie i

y thii a, beqety beqety,, i y behai behai,, Abeti a Emm ecmme the techiqe  ti eatie tatemet it thei pitie m. f exampe, exampe, itea  ayi “‘I’m t imptat” a “My pii p ii ’t ct,” te ye, “I am imptat a “My pii ct” (Abeti a Em, 1995). ftheme, Abeti a Emm ecmme that y ceate, memize, a pt i a iewabe pace a it  pitie pitie tatemet  cmpimet a,ay” “I hae “I’m  at what I ,” “I’m becmiabt meye, aetiech eey eey ( Ibid a.). .).jb,” I y i ye thii pemiaty eatie eatie thht, ceate a pt thi type  it. leai t eae i piti p itiee athe tha eatie eatie itea iae ia e (Execie 3-3) tae time, patiece, a cmmitmet. Y mt want t tam y itapea cmmicati patte. di thi may eem atiicia a taie at it, i t, a i y’ y’e e bati t ye ye.. W We, e,  ahea a bat, epeciay i y’e ha a habit  beati ye p m mi t iht. Y hae that iht.

Exercise 3-3 Scripting a Positive Internal Dialogue

 

1. Selec Selectt one workd workday ay in the up upcomin coming g week to tr track ack y your our inte internal rnal dialog dialogue ue from th the e time yo you u arrive at work until you arrive home at the end of the day. 2. Rec Record ord y your our iinte nternal rnal di dialo alogue gue in a sm small all no noteb tebook ook.. 3. On the following day day,, read your conver conversations sations and answer the ffollowing ollowing questions: What internal conversations did I have as I arrived at work? Write a “P” by the positive comments and “N” by the negative ones. Were my conversations mostly positive or negative? Explain.

Exercise 3-3 continues on next page.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

42  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Exercise 3-3 continued from previous page.

What internal conversations did I have during my day at work? Write a “P” by the positive comments and “N” by the negative ones. Were my conversations mostly positive or negative? Explain.

What internal conversations did I have on the way home from work? Write a “P” by the positive comments and “N” by the negative ones. Were my conversations mostly positive or negative? Explain.

Now,, write down your insights about your internal dialogue: Now

I y  Execie 3-3 e, ctie taci taci  y itea iae a te y impemet. I y catch ye cayi  a eati eatie e itea iae, tp a ewite  ewite y y iae it a piti pitiee e. di thi eay with ceate a habit  pitie itea iae, a that habit wi eeate y aetiee at w.

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Vbay Cmmnica in Aiv Way speai p  e’ ee, wat, iteet, ae, a a mty ii e e eba cmmicati—eiee cmmicati—eiee ace-t-ace, e e the teeph teephe, e,  i me m  ta-p peetati. The teth  y eba cmmicati epe  y w a eiey. Bth ae imptat emtati   aetiee. W chice ame y meai whie the way  y eie y meae—y te  ice, acia expei,    y by aae—  te mae a eate impact  y eceie tha what y hae t ay. We’ ccetate  the apect  eba cmmicati i the ext chapte. f w, we’ c  the w, a hw y ca tate y thht i me eectie a aetie way. Be Direct 

Eectie a aetie eba meae ae eiee eiee thh bie, bi e, ec ecaatie aatie etece that ae peciic, ccete, a t the pit. Pepe wh e iect cmmicati ’t watz a thei mai pit, pi t,  ambe, heitate, hee thei tatemet, exce themee, themee,   aythi ee that eay, p,  ce thei meae. Cie each  the wi exampe   aetie peech a thei aeti ae tiee eqiaet. Unasser tive Language

Asser tive Language  

Perhaps, if you don’t mind—and I realize the subject may seem a bit arcane—but if you’re open to it, we might look at a another approach to financing this phase of our expansion.

There’s another approach to financing this phase of our expansion. I recommend that we do a saleleaseback. Here’s how it works . . .

Oh, excuse me, Doug, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so busy, but, ah, I was wondering, and maybe this isn’t the time, but I was wondering if I could talk with you sometime about my vacation schedule. Is that possible?

Doug, I’d like to talk with you about my vacation schedule. Can we meet next week?

ntice hw the aetie cmmicat “beat a the bh” a qaiie what he  he hpe t ay (“i y’e pe t it”), a eem t be apizi (“Exce me,” “I’m y”). I ctat, the aetie cmmicat e impe ecaatie etece (“Thee’ athe appach”) a i cmmai i ate (“I ecmme that . . .”). Ty wi thi aetie exampe  a ea bai. A y cat ht, cea, ccete etece that

peciey cey cey y meai, y’ hea a ee ee ye becmi me aetie.. The tip that w aetie  w wi hep y e eep ep thi i.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

44  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Understand Your Listeners 

The me y y w abt y itee, itee , the bette pepae y’ be t cat a eie a meae that appea peciicay t thei iteet, cce, ee, a eie th.Y ca eta itee byhep ccti aiece aayi—a qeti whe awe wi y ietiy the maep  y aiece. T aayze y y  itee  aiece, awe awe the wi qeti: ite e/aiece? iece? (ee, ae, ethicity ethicity,, atiaity atiai ty,, a/p•  Wh i my itee/a

iti, ecatia ee, icme ee, aea  expetie, taii, cia ca, eii, etc.) my y aiece w  ee t w w abt the bject  my •  What e m meae? •  Hw e my aiece ee abt the bject  my meae?   Hw e m my y aiece peceie peceie  ee abt me? (weeabe, cei• be, eiabe, ttwthy, ai, peitet, eiabe, cattee, iexibe, etc.) we  wi my meae appea t my my aiece’ cce, iteet, iteet, a •  Hw we ee? Put Your Main Point Up Front 

oe  the ey t iect cmmicati i ptti the mai pit  y meae p t (Baiey, (Baiey, 2007), whethe the meae i eiee ia a peetati, a ace-t-ace ac e-t-ace ecte, ecte, a e-mai, a ept, a ette ette,,  a teephe tee phe ca. Cie thi exampe  a ae maae mai a acemet t a athei  he ae epeetatie: I’m peae t te y that dai obe, mey  Hae Eqipmet, e   ey cmpetit, wi be jii  i the sthwet ae ei. Thi ae maae w the   t ecibe obe’ bac a what he w bi t the ae et. e t. He mai ppe, hwee hwee,, wa

t ace obe  hii, which he i taihtaway taihtaway,, bee etti it ay the etai. Thi i the  taa  bie cmmicati. up t mea ce t the tp  the meae, athh it’ t eceaiy the it w pepe wi hea  ea. speeche a peetati,  exampe, ca  a bie atteti-ette; the cmmicati chae ca  a ht exchae  peaatie. Y Y  mai pit,  aiece “tae-aw “tae-away ay,” ,” h cme  ate. The The et  y cmmicati cmmicati  meey expai the etai  that mai pit  pie a ica amet i it a  a.. The excepti t thi tip ie eiei ba ew. Whe y hae ba ew t cmmicate, chi it by it eiei a bie bac  the itati  ea  a eqet  ecii. Ai pi thee cmmet, thh, becae y eceie, eceie, eae  the itati, w wi i be itchi t w y bttm ie. f exampe, i y ee t mi a ay   w becae y mthe i hai cataact ey, y miht ay t y AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

45

b, “rbi, my mthe i chee  cataact ey  fiay,  I wat t tae that ay .” By tati y ea it, y pepae rbi t be me pe t y eqet. Hee’ athe exampe: let’ ay y maae a epatmet i a cmpay which ha t eee. The The hiay ae appachi, appach i, a y ee t bea the ew that the cmpay i cai cai  bac it yea-e ceebati a that be wi be hapy ece. Y Y miht ace it thi way: A y w, w, we’e ha a eee hta i each  the pat tw qate. Cmpay-wie we’e w abt $3 mii m thi time at yea. s, thi hiay ea we’ hae a mety catee ettethe itea  the a hiay bah. That way eeye ca eceiee a ma hiay b. ecei I thi cae, y pie a ea (the cmpay’ cet iacia itati) bee eiei the eatie mai pit. ntice t hw thi pt a ptetia eatie—the te b—it a pitie iht witht bei ihet  maipatie. maipatie. I y i ye etti caht p i ambi ice mai meae, pi the chit-chat i teephe ceati bee y et t the heat  y meae, empyi hee w t cte y meai, hiti at what y eay wat i ace-t-ace ecte,  i the m  aetie cmmicati, y’e y’e t bei aetie. Bt y ca

chae. ti: ra I y ha haee a imptat meae t et ac, wite it t ahea  time. The, pactice it t   i y mi a eie eie it a y pactice. I time, what y y pactice wi becme a habit that peet y a a me ce a pwe pe. Use Positive Language 

I eea, it’ me eectie t tate what y wat athe tha what y ’t wat. neatie neatie w ch a “’t,” “w’t,” “ca’t,” “ca ’t,” “t,” a “ “ee” ee” ae iict  the mi t pce. A, pepe ae me iey t ep we t a pitie tatemet tha t a eatie e. They ’t ie bei t t “d’t t thi, ’t  that.” Itea  ayi “d’t eae a cttee e whe y  hme m w,” ie a me aetie tatemet, “Cea p y e bee y eae.” sme exampe w.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

46  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Nega gattiv ive e-Un Una asse sert rtiive St Sta atement nts s

Posit itiive-As Ass sert rtiive St Sta atem emen entts 

Don’t wait until the end of the month to turn in your expense report.

Always submit your expense report before the end of the month.

Don’t keep taking long lunches and coming back late to work.

Take as much time for lunch as you like, as long as you can be back to work on time.

Don’t forget to give me your report

Give me your report before you leave

before you leave for Baltimore tomorrow.

for Baltimore.

We can’t send a technican until

We can send a technician tomorrow.

tomorrow. We won’t be launching the new ad campaign until next month.

We’ll launch the new ad campaign next month.

Thee ae bte ieece i thee exampe, bt the tatemet i the iht-ha cm ae me cmmai a ambi ambi  i thei meai. They cmmicate bth the meae and the aetiee  the peae.  Avoid Wor Words ds T That hat Limit Y Your our Credibility  Credibility 

Whe y e imiti aeb ch a “jt” a “y” t ecibe ye   a accmpihmet, y cey a w ee  e eteem t itee. f exampe, “I’m jt the eceptiit,” “It’ jt my pii,”  “I’m jt hpi I’ et the pptity t w hee” (Wathe, 1991). Y may thi that thee w mae y appea t be me hmbe. Itea, they mae y appea t be iece, a thh y’e eai ye. deete them a e me e-ciet aae, ee whe y ’t ee ciet. l at the ieece that ppi a w a i be aae chice ca mae: Unasser tive Statements

Asser tive Statements  

“I’m just the receptionist.”

“I’m the receptionist.”

“It’s only my opinion, but . . . .”

“I firmly believe that . . . .”

“I’m just hoping I’ll get the opportunity oppor tunity to work here.”

“This is where I want to be.”

By the ame te, phae ch a “T te y the tth,” “T be peecty het,” a “f “fay ay peai” aie qeti i y ecei eceie’ e’ mi abt y hety (Wathe, 1991) a, theee, ceibiity. A gee AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

47

Wathe wite i hi b Power Talking: 50 Ways to Say What You Mean and  Get What Y You ou Want , “I a pe pe  i habitay het, i hi iteity i 100 pecet, why w he ee t mae a pit  expaii that he’ abt t te

the tth? (Wathe (Wathe,, 1991). Y may be i thee phae a ie t mae etece me ceatia ceatia a i witht itei ay pecia meai. sti, a Wathe ecmme, it’ bette t eimiate the e  e  iteityqetii phae. ti: Avi “I tin” n  a, a ce aie t Peiet gee W. Bh wa bei iteiewe by a ew epte. The bject wa the Peiet’ state  the ui Ae, which he ha eiee the iht bee. It wa cea m the iitia pat  the iteiew that thi aie ha a ha i ati the ae. The epte ae the aie what the Peiet ha meat by impi ecity citi i Iaq. di that mea that the tp w  be cmi hme? lie  may, may, thi aie bea a w  w [my itaic  emphai]: I think that what the m “t Peiet meat wawe . . .expect .” oe t  epeatey epeatey hea thi  eqicati pepe whm mae eqica tatemet. sayi “I thi that . . .” i ie ayi, “I’m t e, bt . . .”  “I eay ’t w.” o we, “I thi that what I meat wa . . . .” Away emembe, pepe ae e iteete i what y think  tha i what y know . A aetie, aetie, ceibe pe pe  e not hae t e at what he  he mea. It’ mch me eectie t mae tatemet ie thi: “The Peiet’ tatemet cmmicate the emtabe act that iece i Iaq ha bie ice thi time at yea yea.” .”  Avoid Absolutes  Absolutes 

W ie “away” a “ee” ae abte w that amae ceibiity whe e t ecibe ee  mee ee. Hee ae me exampe: I’e ee bee  at math. I ee  peia. smethi’ away away t  pace. I away pt my t i my mth. Y’e ee ha t pepe i. Y ee pea p i  meeti. vey ew thi ii  ie ae abte. ui abte w eqie a extaiay amt  eiece t btatiate y pit, ee the it’ it’ iey y ca pe it abtey. s, it’ bet t tie them m y thht a cmmicati.  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

 Avoid the “Sorries”  “Sorries” 

Picte thi cee: A membe  y ae team te y that he ha bee cti a paticay iict ciet  ix mth, a that the ciet ha jt cae t ay that he wet with a cmpetit. Y ep with “I’m y.” Y teammate  pzze a ecae, “It’ t becae  y.”  you’re pzze. nw,liit What’ i ? that the w “y” ha tw meadebah Tae expai i. oe i a itea apy; the ec i a expei  ympathy a cce thh which the peae i t apizi  accepti bame. Acci t Tae, wme ae me iey tha me t e the ec meai whie me ae me iey tha wme t iew thi a a apy (T (Tae, ae, 1994). Y ca ee the pibiity  bei miet by bei me peciic: “I’m y that happee,”  “I’m y t hea that y ciet wet with athe cmpay.” depei  the eceie, hwee, that may ti  apetic. A a ateatie, ee bac the emti the the pe i expei: “That’ iappiti,” we by a me eta, pitie

tatemet ch a “Bt I’m e that y ae i wi eetay bi y y  a ee bie a bette acct.” Acci t Tae, a itea apy pt y “e-w” i a eatihip. Y’e accepti bame a ptti the the pe i a piti t abe y  it (Tae, 1994). Theee, pay atteti t hw y e the w “I’m y.” Use “I” Statements to Expr Express ess Ideas and Give F Feedback  eedback 

statemet that bei with the w “I” te y eceie that y w a tae epibiity  the meae that’ abt t w. Cie thee exampe: I ecmme that we pe a ew, tate--the-at waehe i Weteie. Hee’ why . . . I beiee we’ we’ be me eiciet e iciet with  time a pbem-i i we hae hae ewe membe  the team—ee at the mt. Amiah, I wat y t aciitate the ext meeti becae y’ y’e e a exceet itee a y wecme ppi pit  iew. That hw me y’e y’e eay  a eae eaehip hip e. Thee “I” tatemet exe ciece a caity caity.. Ca y ee why? “I” tatemet a hep peet eebac m cmi ac a jmeta  accaty. Tae a  at thee exampe:

I ie the ayt  the bche. It’ eye-catchi. I tem  c, thh, I’ ie t ee me ctat betwee the bac a a  text. Phi, I’m iappite that y mie  meeti. Y ipt i aabe t  a we cte  y.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

 

49

Macia, I’m tate whe y itept me. di  ipt i pt my thht. ntice hw thee tatemet cmbie “I” with bjectie a ccete w. T T ay, ay, “Macia, I ee tate  tate whe y itept ite pt me, beca becae e that’ e” wi wi  pbaby p p e e a eeie epe.  Avoid “You” “You” Statements 

I ctat t “I” tatemet, the that bei with “y” may pt y eceie  the eeie, epeciay whe they cey citicim. stati a etece with “y” i ie piti the ie ie at athe pe. I the wi exampe, y’ y’ ee the jmeta ei  the tatemet y jt ea i the pei ecti: Y i a p jb  the bche, fa. f e thi, y ’t hae eh ctat betwee the bac a text. Phi, y mie the meeti a et eeyby w. Y eay iappite . Macia, y mae me ay whe y eep itepti. ite pti.  Jt eai thee w ca ma maee y y ee ee be beate ate w,  im imaie aie what they  t the eceie eceie.. I y a i t iece a chae  behai behai,, pce a bette pct, ecae me paticipati, eep eep a empy empyee’ ee’ eaehip i,  me the pitie tcme, the ai the eitace a eetmet that “y” tatemet te pe. pe. I the ame ei, cmpimet that bei with “y” may a be a pbem. Y Y eceie may ee cmtabe cmta be becae the cmpimet c mpimet appea t be ey ey amiia a may ctitte a beach  peia baie—  b aie—  epeciay whe y’e y’e cmmicati with mee  mee m the ppite ex. rathe tha ayi “Y “Y  eat i that it,” which i a ae a im-

pecie, y miht ay “I ie the ei a c  y it. It  ey peia.” Itea  ayi “Y “Y hae a ice mie,” y ca ay “I app appeeciate y chee attite. It bt the mae   epatmet.” Thee “I” tatemet ae me peciic etamiht eta, , a they eect ay mietai a cmpimetay c mpimetay “y”a tatemet eeate. Consider the Multi-P Multi-Part art “I” Statement 

Mti-pat “I” tatemet ca be epeciay e i emtiay-chae itati whee eei pet y eqiibim a y i ye at a   methi methi  t ay ay.. Athh tthe he m maa  thee ta tatemet temet may ay ay,, e  the mt cmmy e ei icpate icp ate the thee pat e t cmmicate e’ eei: I ee ________________ whe y _________________ becae  ______________.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

50  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

The ma aw y t ecibe y emti, the behai  the the pe, a it ceqece  y ( y team, cmpay, epatmet, amiy, amiy, etc.). Hee i the peciic ayt: I feel 

a description of your emotions

when you 

an objective description of the other person’s behavior

because 

a description of the effect effects s on or consequences for you

let’ ay that witht y maae y  t y team’ eaibiity ept ept  eea wee iiha yhe eebac. Ay team’ meeay wi emie y chee. che e. Eeye wi hae t w iht a weee t mae p the t time. Thi i t the it time ti me thi ha happee. I act,  act, y maae mae a habit  thi withi. Y Y  a y team  pect pect that he ie t ceate a cii, ii hime the peee peae  watchi y team pem e pee. By w y’e a ha eh  the ate iht, ee-ay wee, a mie actiitie with y amiie. Y’e tempte t et e. I y’e  the paie ie  the aetiee cae, y’ iey eit the temptati a impy bi iie. I y’e  the aeie ie, y miht expe:

“Thee y  aai, Tm. Y ee ie  eebac   ept ti the at mite, which pt  it a time bi. We’e ic a tie  thi iy ame.” ubei ye i thi aei aeie e way way may mae y ee bette, bt that appach i te ieectie a iy. Y pt the the pe i y iht, e  e abte (“ee”), (“ ee”), a ame y ew hi mtie ti e (“ame”), whe i eaity, eaity, pepe ca’t c a’t w  cetai ce tai the thht  mtie  the e he  he hae them with . The beaty  the mti-pat “I” tatemet i that it aw pepe at ay ee  aeti ae tiee ee t e a eecti e ectiee a -jmeta meae: Tm, I becme tate whe y eay ii eebac   ept becae it pt  i a time cch a tae  away m  amiie. ntice that the “I” tatemet impie a eie    a chae i behai i the the pe. pe . Y Y may i it e t iecty i ecty tate the chae y wat by ai a th pat pa t t y meae: “s wi y _________________?” f exampe: Tm, I becme tate whe y eay ii eebac   ept becae it pt  i a time cch a tae  away m  amiie. So will you aee t t a  ept ate?” Hee’ a “ wi y” extei m a eaie exampe: Macia, I ee tate whe y itept me. It ipt my AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

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thht. So will you  et me iih? The, I’ be happy t hea what y hae t ay. The tatemet ae aetie witht bei iepect. Macia wi pbaby aee t thi eaabe eqet. Bt what i he ep, “n, I w’t pmie that.”? Y miht a he t expai he bjecti. she miht te y that he itept becae y tae a  time t mae y pit a that he’ ccee abt i her tai  thht. I epe, y c e t e me iect cmmicati a ay, ay, “I that cae, wi y aee t tp tp itepti me?” By i a w “I” tatemet ee bac ya wi-wi eei t Macia, y eae me abt y behait a etiate tcme.

u  M eciv Cmmnicain Cann A cmmicati chae i a meim thh which pepe eie a meae—a teephe ca, ette, emai, ice mai, ept, ace-t-ace ecte, etc. The ate  y meae, the cte  y aizati, a y eatihip with the eceie wi hep y etemie the mt apppiate chae. f exampe, i y ee t eie eatie eebac t a empyee, y’ wat t   ace-t-ace a i piate. I y wat t et p a time with y maae t ic a aie  pmti, y miht a wat a ace-t-ace, piate eba ecte. Yet, y maae miht bette appeciate a emai, becae he  he ca acce it at hi  he ceiece. Y ca wite: “He, [the ame  y maae]. nw that I’e ccey iihe the Ma Etepie pject, I’ ie t ta with y abt my ext tep with the cmpay. I thee a ceiet time   t meet?” ntice that y’e y’e ai  a meeti, t  the aie  pmti. It’ bette t eae eae thee peciic  the ace-t-ace ecte. pacic G timing  I aiti t chi the mt eecti e ectiee cmmicati chae,  timi i imptat. Thi ie  timi i ea t y eceie a a timey epe i tem  eebac. Timing and Your Receiver 

Whe y y pactice we-time cmmicati, the eceie i eay t hea h ea a ep t y meae, ee  itacti. T accmpih thi, y ee t be awae  what’ i  with a a y eceie eceie.. What by aae e he  he cey? I he  he ae, eae i ceati with mee ee,  e by pepe? de y eceie eem he  at eae? I the m peace  chatic? What time  ay i it—mi-mi, iht bee ch, ci time? deiei dei ei a meae at the iht time ca hep ee y cce; eiei it at the w time ca ea t a wate et. f exampe, i y wa it y eceie’ ice t i that he  he  e-ace a i e by haie-i ta a he  he ht e  the teephe, thee may be ce t cme bac at athe time. I y eceie i ae, wi qiety at the cmpte, y miht pitey itept a a  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

i it’ a  time t ta. I he  he ay “ye” a mti  y t it w, y h pcee. I y eceie ay “ye,” bt hi  he by a-

ae ay , y may wat wat t a i athe time w be me ce iet. scce timi i a matte   ee, bei atte t the the pe, a t the imptace a ate  y meae. Timing and Feedback 

Pmpt epi t athe atheapect pe’ behai, w, iea,  eebac—that pemace i i, a timey way—i way—i   timi. deayi eebac imit the impact  y meae a may iicate heitati  a ac  ciece a aetiee. aetiee. I act, Abeti Abe ti a Emm et i thei b, Your Perfect Right  that a “ptaeity  expei” i a a   aetiee aetie e (Abeti a Emm, 1995). o ce, me itati ca  a eaye epe. Cti mee i t  the,  exampe, i t a  iea. I eea, hwee, it’ bette t be pmpt whe y wat t cmpimet  ctctiey citicize mee, eie eie a pp ppi i iea, a  a chae i behai,  ecae pitie behai. Timey eebac i a eemet  pe a aetie cmmicati.

Think About It . . .   1. Think abo about ut a commun communicati ication on encoun encounter ter that mis missed sed its mark with yo your ur recei receiver ver.. De Describe scribe the encounter below.

2. Identify tthe he reason or reasons for the miscom miscommunication. munication. For example, did you misjudge or misunderstand your receiver? receiver? Did you hedge, ramble, or waltz around the topic? Did you delay your main point? Did you use negative language? Did you use words that lowered your credibility? Did you use “you” statements or other judgmental language? Did you choose an ineffective ineffectiv e communication channel? Did you use poor timing, etc.?

“Think About It” continues on next page. AMACOM Self Study Program

http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

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Think About It continued from previous page.

3. Now Now,, describ describe e the wa way y you wou would ld engage y your our rec receive eiverr or recei receiver vers s if you had th the e opportunity of a second take.

AssertIVe WrItteN CoMMuNICAtIoN up t thi pit i thi chapte, we hae cee y pe cmmicati. Hwee, a iiicat pecetae  wpace cmmicati i witte: emai, iteice mem: ette t bae, ctme, ppie, a the taehe; ept. uie pe cmmicati, witte meae ca’t be amete by the may -eba ace we te e t cey  thht a eei: acia expei, ice te, pte, a  th. o w mt ta by themee. ftatey, ftatey, may  the eate  eate  aetie eba cmmicati that y’e aeay eae appy eqay t witte m—ch a bei iect a etti t y pit qicy. qicy. Bt thee ae a ew the, which we’ c ce e hee.

hav a Ca p The tati pit  aetie witi i a cea ppe. p pe. The wite’ wite’ ppe miht be t: meet eet ate thi wee t pa the pi •  reqet acti: “Bi, we ee t m ae ceece. Hw abt fiay mi, at 10 AM?”

rep p t a meae: “I eceie eceie y meae a wi ep by  •  re

tmw.” ima ti: “T “Thi hi ept ctai the maet eeach team’ i•  deie imati: i  ctme ema i the Twi Citie aea.” “vea, ea, I hpe that y wi aee with me that thi i •  Iece the eae: “v the iht time t impemet a ew hma ece tatey. I  ity, whee whe e ha the bet hma capita w the te.”  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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The ppe i each  thee exampe i cea, tei the eae that the wite w what he  he i abt. Thee i  “beati a the bh,”  apizi,  mici w. That’ aetie witi. s, bee y it w t wite y ext meae, awe thi qeti: “What’ my ppe?” Pcee m the awe awe..

Ma Y Mag Ca an Ci I mt cae, y’ wat t cie y cmmicati t a ie tpic. limiti ye ye ece the chace  ci   the ecipiet eai the it e a ippi the et. Thi i paticay te  emai. I y hae tw epaate ie t ce, mae each the tpic  a epaate emai. fci  a ie meae wi a ie y a pptity t be cea a cip. f  ppe “cip” mea : w a pibe. E Eey ey me witi •  getti the iea ac i a ew w

expet e ecmy  w. ueceay w a wey phae by y meae a it impact, a etact m the aetie imae y y  hpe t pject. l,, cmpex etece ce a w w •  ui ht, impe etece. l w eae, a a a et, ece the impact  y meae. I y ca’t eit w y meae, bea them it hte, me ietibe piece. Cie the wi piece  witi a hw it c be mae me cea a cip by impemeti the tw eti: I am witi t each  y tay t peay et y w that I hae eceie eceie y eti  eci  cmpay’ ctme eice epe time. My tha t each  y  ei the ai eti. eti. Be ae that I appeciate y bmii   the eti, a that I wi eea t ep t them. I’m

cety t e whe I wi hae my epe, bt I ca ae y that it w’t be t . Qite a mth, iht? Hee’ e exampe  hw t et the meae ac i a me aeti ae tiee way: way: Tha  bmitti y eti  eci  ctme epe time. A ae appeciate. I’ be bac t y  with my epe. The tatemet wa wa ece  m m 78 t 23 w. Which ei i ceae a me aetie a which wi hae a eate impact  the eae?

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

 

Exercise 3-4 A Clear and Crisp Message

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Read the following message and then rewrite it with the objective of getting the same idea across in fewer words: I’ve been thinking about when we should start planning the annual July 4th company picnic. Sometime Sometime in May? June? I’m not sure. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts on when we should begin planning. Please let me know.

Then, read the following message and rewrite it with the objective of using short, shor t, simple sentences. I am writing to inform you that last month the market research team (currently composed, as you know, of myself, myself, T Tom om Anderson Anderson,, Brenda Gooda Goodall, ll, and Silvia Sil via Gonzal Gonzales) es) convened in the R&D Center conference room roo m to consider each of these two issues: issues : lead user customer attitudes toward our existing list of products, and how we might go about measur-

ing the responses of these lead user customer attitudes to prototypes developed developed by the new product development team.

u  M eciv an Aia M May me  cmmicati ae aaiabe t y. depei  the cicmtace, y may be abe t eie a eba, ace-t-ace meae. We We ice thi matte eaie ea ie i thi chapte. chapte. face-t-ace face-t-ace eba cmmicati i at a aw y t ehace y meae with mie, imace, ie piti, ce am, ice te, a the eba ce. A y wi ea ate i thi ce, c e, eba cmmicati eeay mae mae a eate impei  itee tha the w we e. veba cmmicati, eithe ace-t-ace  ia teephe, a ha the aatae  bei yamic; the the paty ca ep with qeti  cmmet,  the tw patie ca bette ce i  the tpic , ceey ceey,, tae it ici i me it ew a pae iecti. I ctat, witte cmmicati i me ie a e-way teet. o the the ha, witte cmmicati ha me itict a aatae. atae.

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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•  The wite ha time t thi, pa, a ewite the meae. A tte ceae ca be ae t ea the meae  ette a et ateati a impemet. impemet. imati mati ca be c cey eye e (ch a by by ept), with •  lae ch  i aphic a tabe e t hihiht  eabate ey aea.

Y h a cie hw the chice  cmmicati m wi aect pepe’ pecepti  y aetiee. f itace, i eai with pbem biate, tei them ia emai t “hape p” wi ie the impei that y’e aai t citicize thei w pemace  behai i pe. Y’ be peceie peceie a a paie, cict aie. It’ It’ bet t pea i-

ecty t the pe abt the pbem, then  w p with a witte mem i which y etate the pbem a a  y ee it, mmaize what wa ai i y meeti, a te whatee chae() the pe aee t. By wi p i witi, y pce a ec that ca be pt i the pee ie  the pbem biate. I the cae  te icipiay acti  imia, that ec wi ppt y acti. Witte cmmicati i a aea i which y ca emtate aetiee. eti ee. Ay time y wite i i  a ccea ea,, ccie, c ciet, iet, a cmpei way, y emtate that y’e i ct  ye a the imati. Thi type  witi ma y a a aetie pe.

re

p

I bii y ee  aetiee, y mt w what matte t y. “What matte” i thi cae ae y ee, wat, iteet, ae, a a. Thee ae the thi y mt ta p  i the wpace a i the aea  y ie.

nee thi y ea a eetia  y baic phyica aae meta ia. W Wee eee ee e t Maw’ Maw’  hieachy  ee, beii with the mt baic ee ( a wate) a mi p t hihe ee ee (e-eteem a e-actaizati). Wat ae ie ee, bt ae ptia. Y may need  taptati i e t h a payi jb, bt y may want a BMW becae y ie qaity a ie eieei. Y iteet ae the thi t which y caim me iht, tite,  ea hae. f itace, i y ae a maae, y hae a iht t chee the w  y biate. Aye wh tie t chee thei w w be iii p y iht a a maae. A aetie aetie pe w tavp ae thatthe iht. ae abtact iea t which we ahee a h  t, a  which we wih t be w. Typica ae ice iteity, ttwthie, aie, a yaty. A ecibe i the chapte, a a i methi we cciy aim t achiee i the te. It’ e t thi  a a ht-tem, itemeiate, ite meiate,

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BuIldIng Your AssErTIvEnEss  

57

-tem, a eacy eacy. A it’ a  iea t wite w a piitize a. Pea a, ie the act cee i the chapte, ae methi that

the aetie pe mt ta p  whe they ae chaee  iepecte. speai p  what matte t y ie bth eba a witte m  cmmicati. Aetie Aetie eba cmmicat ae iect; the they y e bie, ecaati ec aatiee etece that ae peciic, ccete, a t the pit. They ’t hem a haw, ambe,  ace a thei mai pit. Thee cmmicat ae eectie becae they mae a pit  etai thei itee: wh they ae, what they aeay w abt the bject, what they ee t w. They a pt thei ey pit p t, i the et  thei time t pie etai. Whie mt wpace cmmicati i i  e ebay ebay,, a pe pe  ca a be aetie i the way he  he appache witte cmmicati. May  the ame picipe  aetie cmmicati appy eqay t emai, mem, ette, a ept. They They h be cea a cip, a i mt cae, pt the mai pit p t.

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58  

AssErTIng Yours oursElf Elf AT Work

Review Questions  

limiti a aeb eb a “jt” a “y” t ecibe ye (“I’m : jt 1.  a aitat”)  ach accmpihmet, ce cey y the wi t itee: itee (a) a w w ee ee  e e eteem. eteem. (b) a exact exact exp expei ei.. (c) aetie aetie cie ciece. ce. () y y jb ietity ietity..   2.  Which  the wi bet epeet mee’ ee? (a) A ae he, he, a aibat, a pi piate ate i ieity eity ecati (b) feem eem m wy (c) Eqait Eqaity y  ppt pptity ity () shete shete, , a wate wate  3.   The tati pit  aetie aetie witi i: (a (a)) a t tie ie.. (b) a cea cea pp ppe. e. (c) a phiticate phiticate  cabay cabay.. () a pwe pwe  e ei. i.   4.  Y wat a jb tite that eect y expae tie.  _______________ i the mt eecti e ectiee cmmicati chae t y b  achiei thi a.

1. (a)

2. ()

3. (b)

4. ()

(a (a)) A Aice emai emaimai  (b) ice mea meaee (c) A teep teeph hee ca ca () A ace-t-ac ace-t-acee m meeti eeti   5.  Which  the wi emtate the mt eectie “I” tatemet? 5. (b) (a) “I ee pet whe whe y’ y’e e icieate twa twa pepe  the team.” (b) “I ee pet whe y y i iee me a aimet the iht bee it’ e, e, becae I wat t eie my bet w. s, ext time wi y ie me aace tice?” (c) “I thi y’e y’e e ee e i t imp impe, e, be becae cae y eithe ’t ty  y ’t cae.” () “Y “Y et the Cby acct t  the iacia tatemet. Hw c y be  caee?”

Do you have questions? Comments? Need clarification? Call Educational Services at 1-800-225-3215 or e-mail at [email protected]. [email protected]. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

4  asst Nn Cnctn Learning Objectives  Objectives  By the end  this chapte, y shd be abe t:

• State the imptance  nnveba aspects   •

cmmnicatin. Dieentiate Dieentia te between passive, aessive, aessive, and assetive nnveba ces.

key dimensins  assetive nnvekey nnve• Identiy ba cmmnicatin (ANC). • Expain hw dimensins  ANC can be



cmbined t stenthen nnveba cmmnicatin. Keep a nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin jna.



Descibe stateies t ain y veba and nnveba nnve ba cmmnicatin.

The ast chapte eqip eqipped ped y with pactica techniqes  maki makin n y v veeba cmmnicatin me assetive. assetive . In this chapte chapte, , y’ ean abt anthe m  cmmnicatin—nnveba—and cmmnicatin—nnv eba—and its impact n the wa way y pepe peceive y and the wds y speak.

The Powe wer r of NoNverbal CommuNiCaTioN Accdin t stdies cndcted by psychist D. Abet Mehabian, a messae deiveed deiveed ace-t-ace beaks dwn int thee eements:

• •

Veba: What y say Vca: Hw y say it Visa: What the eceiv eceive e sees that is y bdy anae, dess, etc.  © American Management Management Association. Association. All All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

59

 

60  

ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

Which  these d y sppse has the eatest pwe? Accdin t Mehabian, the vca cmpnent—tne  vice and vme,  exampe—  cnts  38 pecent  a messae peceived peceived by the adience. The veba—  the acta wds—cnt  ny 7 pecent, whie the visa ptin—pste, p tin—pste, acia expessin, and dess,  exampe—cnts  55 pecent (Aednd, 1991). Spisin, isn’t it? othe eseach eveas dieent pecentaes dependin n the settin  the cmmnicatin. Nevetheess, thse indins ndesce the imptance  nnveba cmmnicatin t the eect  a messae. Accdin t Mehabian, i y nnv nnveba eba and veba cmmnicatin cntadict cnt adict each th the e,, pepe wi be me i ikey key t beieve the nnveba ces. In the wds, the nnveba messae tmps pepe’s wds. Pepe may let’ assbe cn sed cnsed y veba nnveba cntadictins. let’s sest thatby a iend at wkand asks i y wd wd mind stayin ate t hep pt tethe aphs  a ept. Y say, “N, I dn’t mind at a,” bt y ap n the tabe (knck n wd) and e a tiht-ipped smie. Y wds say that y dn’t mind, bt y nnveba nnveba ces send sen d the messae that y d mind. An assetive pesn wd nt send these mixed messaes; his  he nnveba cmmnicatin wd sppt his  he wds. The veba and nn-veba cmmnicatin wd be ained: “I can’t hep y tniht with these aphs becase  anthe cmmitment, bt I can pitch in eay tmw tm w mnin. Hw des that snd t y?” A the whie, the assetive asse tive

speake is sin acia and bdy anae t indicate his  he inteest and sppt  what the the pesn is tyin t accmpish: a smie, eect pste, eye eye cntact, and a cmmandin tne  vice. The ast chapte ave y y many exampes  wds and phases y can se t expess eeins and state what y want in a diect and cncise way. The knwede  hw t ame y messae shd ive y me cnidence in what y’e abt t say—a cnidence that y vice and bdy anae shd eect. Ideay, as y w me assetive, each aspect   cmmnicatin—veba, vca, and visa—wi pessivey becme bette ained (Exhibit 4-1).

xhibit 4-1 Alignment Between Communication Elements Verbal What You You Say

 

Vocal How You Say It

Alignment

Visual Body Language

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

SSErTIVE

oNVErBAl

oMMuNICATIoN  

61 In this chapte chapte,, we’ assme that y’ y’e e aeady ettin bette at amin the veba cntent  y messaes and that y cmt eve with sin me assetive anae wi hep y impve y nnveba cmmnicatin skis. T et stated, ty y hand at Execise 4-1. It wi hep y bseve the dieence in y vice and bdy anae when y deive nn-assetive, aessive, and assetive statements. A

Exercise 4-1 Words into Action

N

C

 

1. Ask a frien friend d to videot videotape ape yo you u readin reading g (or putt putting ing into y your our ow own n word words) s) the ffollow ollowing ing stat stateements. Or, put the camera on a tripod and do your own recording. If you don’t have access to a video camera, capture your voice on an audio recorder while watching yourself in a mirror. 2. Reco Record rd eac each h stat statemen ement, t, one after the ot other her,, in one ttake ake.. 3. Then, p play lay ba back ck the n non-as on-assertiv sertive e and asse assertive rtive st statem atements ents in E Exampl xample e 1. 4. Write do down wn what y you ou observ observe e about yo your ur voic voice e and body lan language guage in th the e nonass nonassertive ertive an and d assertive readings. Do you see a contrast? If so, what stands out? What does this say to you about nonverbal communication? 5. Fol Follow low the s same ame proce process ss ffor or E Examp xamples les 2 and 3 3.. Example 1

Nonassertive language: “Oh, excuse me, Doug, I’m sorry to bother you when you’re so busy, but, ah, I was wondering, and maybe this isn’t okay, but I was wondering, you know, if I can talk with you sometime about my vacation schedule? Is that possible?” Assertive language: “Doug, I’d like to talk with you about my vacation schedule. Can we meet next week?” Your observations:

Example 2  Nonassertive language:

“If you don’t mind—and mind—an d this may or may not seem a bit arcane arcan e to you—but if you’re open to it, and hopefully you are, we might look at another approach to financing this phase, if you will, of our expansion plan.” Exercise 4-1 continues on next page.

 © American Management Management Association. Association. All All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

62  

ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

Exercise 4-1 continued from previous page.

Assertive language: “I propose another approach to financing this phase of our expansion. I recommend that we cap our debt financing at $150 million millio n and delay new store openings in the southwest region. Here’s why . . . .” Your observations:

Example 3 

Aggressive language: Aggressive “There you go agai again, n, T Tom. om. You never give u us s feedback on our repor reports ts until the last minute and we always end up in a time bind. We’re sick and tired of being the pawns in your game, just so you can play hero to senior management.” Assertive language: “Tom, delaying feedback on our reports like this puts the entire team in a time bind, forcing us to work nights and weekends. M More ore timely feedback from you will solve that problem. Is there any reason that you cannot turn around our reports more quickly?” Your observations:

What did y bseve abt y eadin  these thee exampes? fm a sticty veba pespective, the passive, aessive, and assetive aspects   these qtes ae aiy bvis. Bt what abt the vice tne and bdy anae that went with them? Exhibit 4-2 ists sme  the nn-veba ces eneay assciated with these thee appaches t cmmnicatin.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

ASSErTIVE NoNVErBAl CoMMuNICATIoN  

 

xhibit 4-2 Non-Verbal Cues Passive

63

  Aggressive  

Avoids eye contact

Glaring eye contact; squinting

Shoulders hunched

Leaning forward

Head down

Head craned forward

Low voice

Strong and unusually loud voice

Hands held in front in a defensive posture

Pointing or jabbing forefinger at the listener; or hands on hips; or arms crossed in front

mtcnctn: mnn bynd t wds Imaine this scenai. Y set the aam an h-and-a-ha eaie than y sa wake-p time, s y can et t wk ahead  y manae and c-wkes. c-wkes. Y k wad wad t answein y y emai ee  distactins and pishin the tip ept  ept n ast week’s eina saes meetin. When y aive, aive, y’e y’e spised t n int the Vice Pesident   Natina Saes wh says in a bmin vice as she waks by, “My, y’e  t an eay ea y sta statt tday.” Y mmbe, “W “We, e, yes, I am.” The V V.P .P.. stid stides es int he ice. Y nck the d t y ice and wak inside and wnde, “Nw, what was that a abt?” Did y V.P. mean y neve cme in eay? Did she mean that y’e tyin t shw he p? Did she mean that she’s impessed with y eay aiva? Y think abt he tne  vice, he acia expessin, and the bdy anae t iv ivee y a ce. The meanin y’e y’e tyin t ie t in this sitatin is what cmmnicats ca metacmmnicatin. Speciicay Speciicay,, this is “the intentina  nintentina impied meanin  a messae . . . [that] thh nt ex-

pessed in wds, accmpanies a messae that is expessed in wds” (Chaney and Matin, Mati n, 2004). As we cmmnicate cmmnica te with ne anth anthe e,, we intepet the impied meanin  the’s w wds, ds, jst as they’e they’e intepetin  wds. This is anthe easn—and an imptant ne at that—t be pecise and a nd cnc cncete ete in the wds we chse. Yet, Yet, we aen’t aways aways peci pecise se and neithe ae the pepe, s we cntine t intepet each the’s vice and bdy anae  meanin. undestandin these vca and visa ces can hep s impve impve  intepetatins.

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Six Dime imeNSi NSioNS oNS of NoNverbal CommuNiCaTioN In this sectin, we’ we’ expe the dimensins  nnve nnveba ba cmmnicatin t hep s extact the deepe meanins  messaes. T These hese dimensins ae:

•  Bdy mvement •  Bdy cntact cntactt •  Eye cntac •  Intepesna space •  Sience Paaanae ae •  Paaan We’ pesent these dimensins ist in tems  cte in the united States and then, pint t the simiaities and dieences di eences with the ctes. Athh we wn’t be csin n eina vaiatins, it’s imptant t nte that in a cnty as ethnicay ethnica y div divese ese and ae  ae as the united States, eina standads may as vay m the natina nms. once y ndestand these dimensins  nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin, we’ then pesent a sectin n hw y can se them t make y cmmnicatins me assetiv assetive. e.

bdy mnt This dimensin  nnveba cmmnicatin incdes estes, acia expessins, pste, and “the manneisms” (Chaney and Matin, 2004). f exampe, acia expessins te s abt a pesn’s pe sn’s md, eeins, eeins, and attitdes. Many ae nivesa, nivesa, sch as a s smies  wns, ahte  cies. As pepe becme sciaized, they ean hw t cnt expessins t mask thei emtins, especiay inapppiate nes. Hw d they d this? As Abeti and Emmns expain, they becme me awae  “hw the acia msces ee in vais acia expessins. Then, they can bein t cnt thei expessins and make

[them] cnent with what [they’e] thinkin, eein,  sayin” (Abet and Emmns, 1995). The The same hds t te e  estes and bdy pste. Whateve Whatev e the wds, mst individas in i n the united States view an active and eect pste as assetive assetive and a sched pste as passiv pass ive. e. Nevs and eatic estes indicate a ack  se-cnidence. Ths, a pesn’s estes, acia expessins, pstes, stance, and the aspects  mv mvement ement can eithe enhance  cnse a veba messae. Eectiv E ectivee cmmnicats keep these tw tw  ms  cmmnicatin in ainment. Keep in mind that sme cmmn estes in the united States ae intepeted dieenty in the ctes. I y wk with pepe m the cnties, take time t ean the basics  thei bdy anae and hw t pesent yse nnvebay in a way that wi avid ictin and misndestandin. Hep esces incde tave ides, nine sces devted t intenatina bsiness and css-cta cmmnicatin, and bks, sch as Kiss, Bow, Bow, or Shake Hands: How to Do Busines Businesss in Sixty Countr Countries  ies by by Tei Tei M Misn, isn, Wayne A. Cnaway, and gee A. Bden.

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

ASSErTIVE NoNVErBAl CoMMuNICATIoN  

 

bdy Cntct

65

In Nth Ameica, a handshake, whethe it’s im  imp, is ne  the mst imptant nnveba messaes we send. Whie the handshake is a cmmn and accepted accept ed m  tchin, excessiv excessivee tchin may be peceived as sexa haassment  aessive behavi, whie thse wh habitay shink m physica cntact may be peceived as passive  deensive (fntain and Ath, 1990). By cntast, ccasina tchin  ams  shdes, especiay when it’s spntanes and pen, may be view vi ewed ed as assetiv asse tivee (Ibid  (Ibid .). .). Any time y in beynd a handshake, hweve hweve,, it’s imptant t w the standads  y anizatin and pessin. In his bk, Gestures , re re Axte divides ctes int thee cateies: dn’t tch, tch, and midde nd. He has cateized the united States,  Japan,  Japa n, Canada, Enand, Scandi Scandinavia, navia, and the Nthen Epean Epean cnt cnties ies as “dn’t tch” ctes. “Tch” “Tch” ctes incde inc de latin Ameican cnties, c nties, geece, Itay, Spain, Pta, rssia, and sme Asian cnties. “Midde nd” ctes incde fance, China, India, Ieand, Astaia, and Midde Easten cnties (Exhibit 4-3). Accdin t Axte, bth men and wmen in tch ctes may hd hands  wak dwn the steet “am in i n am.” In these ctes, same-sex tch-

in is ten the nm and des nt indicate hmsexa behavi. behavi. f f exampe, latin Ameican men ten eet each the with an aectinate embace, pacin bth hands n the et the’s shdes. In cntast, men in becase the Midde East mst avid sin hand in tchin anthe pesn the et hand is cnsideed ncean (Chaney and Matin, 2004). In Asia, it’s tab t tch smene’s head, becase the head is cnsideed cnsid eed saced (Ibid  ( Ibid ..). ). Tch is a vey sensitive isse, and anyne wh cndcts bsiness acs acsss bdes bde s and acss ctes mst ean and bseve the nms.

xhibit 4-3 Touch and Non-Touch Cultures

Touch

 

Middle Ground

Non-Touch  

Latin American countries

China

United States

Mediterranean countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal)

India

Canada

Ireland

Japan

Australia

Northern European countries

Russia Parts of Asian countries

Middle Eastern countries France

England Scandanavia

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ey Cntct In the united States, Bitain, Canada, and in Nthen and Easten Epe, pepe expect diect eye eye cntact with thes, the s, bt nt constant  constant ey eyee cntact. cn tact. f them, stain at anthe pesn is cnsideed aessive aessive whie the ack  didi ect eye eye cntact as viewe viewed d as passive, i nt tstwthy  shwin a ack   inteest. By cntast, Asians, Easten Indians, and Ameican Indians view kin dwn  indiecty as a wa way y  shwin espect. The They y cnside diect eye eye cntact de. Ths, the nate  smene’s eye cntact tes s a t abt his  he eve  assetiveness, as n as we evaate it within the ppe

cta cntext.

intpsn Spc Is thee a pint at which anthe pe pesn’s sn’s cseness t y makes y y  ncmtabe? D y have a enea sense  what distance m anthe pesn is mst apppiate? apppia te? Mst pepe d have this sense, and it ve vens ns hw they ee in cetain cetai n sitatins. f instance, i smene ste steps ps t cse t them, they ee ncmtabe and want t back away. In his semina stdies  cta anthpy, anthpy, Edw Edwad ad T. T. Ha cateized the se  space int  cateies: intimate, pesna, scia, and pbic (Teja, 2005). Intimate Space  Ha identiied intimate space as 18 inches  ess (Chaney and Matin, 2004). Mst Ameicans ae ncmtabe bein at this distance  any enth in time with a stane sta ne  smene they dn’t knw we, athh they’ mak makee an exceptin when shakin hands (Chaney and Matin, 2004) and a nd standin in eevats eev ats (T (Teja, eja, 2005). In the wkpace, entein anthe pesn’s intimate space witht pemissin pe missin is eneay viewed as aessiv aessivee behavi. It makes pepe inheenty ncmtabe. Personal Space  Ha identiied pesna space as 18 inches t  eet. In the wkpace, pepe se this space “ ivin instctins t thes  wkin csey with anthe pesn” (Chaney and Matin, 2004). As Eizabeth Teja pints t, the bsiness phase “am’s-enth eatinship” has its iins in the far the  far phase  distance (see win paaaph). She expains that keepin this distance in the wkpace heps pepe maintain “ppe eatinships” eatinships ” and ptects them m bein “cnted “cnt ed  ndy iinenced” nenced” by thes (Teja, (Teja, 2005). Social Space 

Hadistance identiied scia spacepepe a s act as timpesnay tweve eet. In thewith w wd d  wk,Athis is the within which and maity. bsiness meetin,  exampe, typicay takes pace within the  t tweve tweve t scia space. Teja wites that the near phase  scia, which is  t seven eet, “is the ane at which mst bsiness cnvesatins and inteactins ae cndcted,” whie the far the far phase , eiht t twev twevee eet, ives ise t “tansa “tansactins ctins that have a me ma tne” (Teja, 2005). She pints t that many AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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anizatins in the united States pace ice nite  seni manaes and exectives exectives in aanements that sppt the eiht t tweve eet pincipe  a scia space. Public Distance  Ha identiied pbic distance as ve tweve eet. Cmmnicatin and inteactin in this pbic space is ess pesna and qaitativey dieent than what tanspies at a cse cs e distance. Can y imaine tyin t cmmnicate with smene sme ne wh is twenty- twenty-ive ive eet away? away? Ceay, y y wd have t speak vey dy and exaeate y bdy anae in de t cmmnicate at a, which is what pepe mst d when they make make a speech in a ae ha. given giv en Ha’s -pat space s pace system, hw shd y maneve maneve i y’e y’e tyin t be assetiv ass etive? e? When inteactin with thes in the wkpace, assetive pepe chse a distance that is apppiate  the ccasin and the nate  the eatinship—nt s cse that they make thes ncmtabe, yet nt s a  a awa away y that they appea detached  excessivey excessivey ma. I they mst be a aw away—as ay—as when ivin a speech  pesentatin—the p esentatin—they y cnte the e-

ects  physica distance thh a pwe vice vice,, and aeated aeate d bdy anae that cance be seen anae, and intepeted at a distanc distance. e. ex-

Snc Sience is anthe dimensin  nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin that can hep y with assetive cmmnicatin. respndin respndin qicky t anthe pesn’s cmmnicatin—that is, nawin the ap  sience—wi eneay make y appea me assetive than smene wh pases  stttes in a seach  wds. That said, sience can as be sed as an assetiveness t. Cnside this exampe: The aessive aessive bss w was as demandin demandin  a stin t a pessin p pbem bem m his thee diect e epts. pts. Y Yein ein and wavin his a ams ms widy widy,, he ixed his stae n Bi: “S what can be dne abt this pbem, Bi?” Bi emained cam and cmpsed, and didn’t say a wd  at east twenty secnds. The n sience made the bss ncmtabe bt made Bi appea thht and in cnt, as thh he aeady had the stin, s tin, bt was chsin his wds caey caey.. Sience can as be sed t indicate disappva, as in espnse t a distaste jke. It can as be sed t daw t caiyin and eveain inmatin, becase pepe eneay ee awkwad din n siences and sh  sh t i the vid. Cnside this exampe: Chatte, the eade  a css-nctina team, was meetin with the the team membes. “gettin a hande n cstme demand  this new pdct appeas t be swin  pess,” she bseved t the thes. “undestandin cstme demand is nt a bi isse,” espnded Heen, a membe  the team. The thes a ked at Heen in sience, as i askin, “We, what d y mean by

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ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

that?” He, cmment, ate a, was cnteintitive and demanded sme expanatin. Ate a mment  sience, Heen t thei nstated messae. “We, what I mean is that cstme demand is a qestin we can answe thh taditina maket eseach.” Expeienced netiats knw the vae vae  si sience ence and se it t thei advantae. vanta e. As pepe devep thei assetivene assetiveness ss skis, ski s, they ean when t deive a qick espnse din an intechane and when t est t sience.

Pn Paralanguage  invves a vca aspects  messaes beynd  wds: vice Paralanguage invves tne, speakin ate, inectin, vme, eney eve, ency ency,, and s n. It incdes vcaizatins sch as ahin and cyin, attendin snds sch as “h-hh,” and ies (“ms” and “hs”) (Chaney and Matin, 2004). Paaanae eveas  attitdes twad seves and thes and the sitatin at hand. It as eveas the pat  the wd  the natin we’e m. It ets pepe knw i we’e we’e any, happ happy y, impatient, sstnned, tnned,  pepexed, pe pexed, amn the emtins. As with the the dimensins  nnveba cmmnicatin, paaanae is cte-speciic. In the united States,  exampe, we ten chaacteize pepe wh speak vey d as de, bish,  aessive. Pepe wh speak vey st ae ten chaacteized as insece  timid—that is, nassetive.. on the the hand, a d speake in an Aab natin is viewed nassetive viewed as demnstatin stenth and sinceity sincei ty.. The pace  speech is anthe aspect as pect   paaanae. Pepe Pepe m Itay and Aa Aab b natins,  instance, say speak at a aste ate than d pepe in the centa united States. What we miht intepet as ane  impatience in this apid ate  speech is the nm  thei ctes. The same pace isse is bsevabe within the united States; cmpae,  exampe, the apid cip  an ban New Yke with the sw daw  a a Kentckian. As y devep y y nnveba cmmnicatin skis, se paaanae that cnveys cnveys the messae y w want ant t send and the emtins y wish t evea. Be eqay attentive attentive t the vca ces  thes. Nw that y’e y’e acqainted with the dimensin  nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin, y ae eady t mve mve n t Execise 4-2 n pae 69, in which y ae asked t anayze the nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin  pepe y w watch atch n a teevisin pam   y chice and then cateize the cmmnicatin as passive, aessive, assetive.

PuTTiNg Toge ogeThe Ther r The DimeNSioNS for aSSerTive NoNverbal CommuNiCaTioN (aNC) The six dimensins  nnveba cmmnicatin descibed abve ae ike bidin bcks. I y pt them tethe in apppia apppiate te ways, ways, y wi make y nnveba cmmnicatins me assetive and eective. What ws AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

Exercise 4-2 Evaluating the Nonverbal Dimensions

 © A  m  e r  i    c   a n M  a n h   a  t    g  t    p  e :  m  /    /   w  e w  t   n w A  .  s   a  s  m  o  a  c  i   n  a  e  t   i    t   .  o  o n r  .  g A   /   l   l   r  i    g h   t    s  r   e  s   e r  v   e  d  .

 

1. Record a tele television vision talk s show how on videot videotape ape or DVD DVD.. It may may be a bu busisiness-oriented program, a political program, a self-help program, or any other television program where people express ideas and interact. 2. Av Avoid oid watchi watching ng the show while you you’re ’re recording. recording. (We suggest suggest that yo you u leave the room so you don’t overhear the conversation.) 3. Once y you’v ou’ve e recorded recorded the program, program, re rewind wind it to the beginning. beginning. 4. Then, pr press ess the mut mute e button on your your televisio television n set or remote control control and play back the program without sound. 5. Watch Watch the progr program am straig straight ht through witho without ut taking notes. notes. (F (First irst impresimpressions are important.) 6. Then, re replay play th the e progr program am and fill in a description description of each each nonverbal nonverbal dimension, except the paralanguage categor category y. You may stop and start, star t, or use the pause button to do this. Nonverbal  Speaker #1 Dimensions 

P

Ag

A

7. Once you’v you’ve e filled in the c categories ategories,, determine if tthe he nonv nonverbal erbal co commummunication is passive (P), aggressive (Ag), or assertive (A) and place an “X” or checkmark in the appropriate column. 8. Next, Next, go back back to the begi beginning nning of th the e progr program am and repl replay ay it wi with th the sound on. 9. Fill in the par paralanguage alanguage category and dete determine rmine if the spe speaking aking s style tyle (not the content of the message) is passive, aggressive, or assertive. 10.Finally, listen to the content of each speaker’s message (what the speaker says) to evaluate if the speaker’s verbal and nonverbal communication are in sync. Fill in the “Observations/Comments” section of the worksheet.

Speaker #2

P

Ag

A

Speaker #3

P

Ag

A

Body movement

 A   S   S   E   r  T  I    V  E 

Body contact

 N  o  N  V  E   r  B   A   l 

Eye contact Interpersonal space

 C  o

 M  M  u  N  I    C  A   T  I    o  N

Silence Paralanguage Observations/Comments:

 

 6    9  

 

70  

ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

is a ist i st  actins y can take t make y y  assetive nnv nnveba eba cmmnicatin,  ANC, an eective habit. Bee y attempt this, take a mment t scan Exhibit 4-4, which ists many  the bdy anae behavis y wi

expeience in the wkpace, and what they say mean.

mk Pp us  Spc Hw y se space and the deee t which y espect the space  thes sends a messae abt y assetiveness. f the mst pat, y shd nt invade smene’s intimate space except  a handshake  a patnic h, and the atte atte  ny iven t pepe y knw w we. e. Y Y se  the the typ types es  space—pesna, scia,  pessina—shd apppiatey match the ccasin and eatinship. f f exampe, it’s it’s apppiate t ente pesna space when tainin an empyee t d a physica task, hepin a cstme pt n an vecat, vecat,  hepin team membes edit a ept. on the the hand, din the same thin at a pessina netwkin event  meetin with epesentatives tativ es  anthe cmpany wd pbaby be inapppiate. Aways Aw ays be aet t hw thes espnd t y mvement mvement in space. Even when y’e y’e ppey within the bndaies  a pa patica tica space, i the the pesn steps back m y, d nt pse. That pesn miht eqie me distance than y ae ivin him  he h e.. I y step wad as the the pesn pes n steps back, y isk cmin acss as aessive aessive athe than assetive. assetive. Nw,, et’s tn the ta Nw tabes. bes. I smene csses ve y ine  cmt, step back. Y Y have a iht t y pesna space and t deine hw ae  sma it is. By steppin back  mvin t the the side  a cnte  desk, y maintain a ppe distance. d istance. Be awae, thh, that this actin may cme acss as passive, passive, especiay t smene wh is aessi aessive ve  wh cmes m an aessive cte. Atenativey Ate nativey,, stand y nd an and d pt y hands n y hips, which indicates that y’e hdin the ine.

mntn  Pssn appnc A pessina appeaance cntibtes t asse assetiv tivee nnveba cmmnicatin (ANC). In the united States, appeaance is ne  the thee mst imptant nnveba messaes y send. The the tw ae y handsh handshake ake and eye eye cntact. Appeaance invves dess, haistye, min, and sch thins as makep and jewey. Assetive pepe dess apppiatey  thei wk and anizatin. odinaiy,, that means eithe bsiness ma  bsiness casa attie. Accntdinaiy in ims and inancia cmpanies,  exampe, exampe, taditinay eqie the me ma wea  dak bsiness sits, whie the entetainment and advetisin indsties ean twad the casa. Whateve y wk envinment, invest in qaity cthin that matches the cent stye. Cthin shd have a ppe it and be kept cean and pessed; shes shd be pished. I y wk eqies a nim, wea and maintain the nim accdin t y anizatin’s standad. Y haistye is anthe imptant aspect  y pessina appeaance. Chse a haistye that has a cean-ct k and enhances the psitive psitive eates  y ace. Aways Aways k keep eep y hai cmbed and washed. washed. I y c AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

ASSErTIVE NoNVErBAl CoMMuNICATIoN  

 

71

y hai, se sbte tnes. finay, wea taste makep and jewey i it’s apppiate   y ende and pessin. Avid heavy eye makep, danin eains, and ashy ins that jine jin e and itte and distact m y messae. remembe remembe,, y appeaance is ne  the mst imptant nnveba nnveba cmmnicats. It a aects ects the way pepe size y p and espnd t y, which in tn aects y se-esteem.

g  f hndsk The thid cmpnent  assetiv asse tivee nnveba cmmnicatin  ANC is a im handshake. handshak e. A im handshak handshakee is pat  the eetin ita in the united States and in many the natins and its qaity sends a stn messae abt y

xhibit 4-4 Body Language and What It Says to Others   Body Language

Meaning  

Crossing the arms ac across the chest

Often a defensive or nervous posture, but sometimes nothing more than a comfortable position

Tou ouch chin ing go orr s scr crat atch chin ing g tthe he mout mouth ho orr che cheek ek

Ne Nerv rvou ous; s; an anxi xiou ous s

Breaking e ey ye c co ontact ffrrom tth he s sp peaker

Possible s sig ign no off e eiither d diisinterest o orr disagreement with what is being said

Fiddling with something, even when maintaining eye contact with speaker

Possible disinterest

Head tilt while listening

Possible boredom

Looking Lookin g aw away ay ffrom rom th the e listen listener er whil while e speak speaking ing Spea Speaker ker m may ay be ly lying ing or hid hiding ing som something ething Nervous head movements

Anxiety

Smilin Sm iling g wit with h the mou mouth, th, but but not wit with h the ey eyes es

Sub Submis missio sion n to tthe he ot other her per person son

Staring and holding eye contact for for a long time, perhaps with eye squinting

Possible aggression

Steppi Ste pping ng a abno bnormal rmally ly c clos lose e to the oth other er p pers erson on

Agg Aggressio ression; n; domin dominance ance

Source: Perry McIntosh and Richard Luecke. Interpersonal Communication Skills in the Workplace. (New York: York: American Manage Management ment Association, 2008).

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se-cnidence t the pepe whse hands y shake. T shake smene’s hand, asp his  he hand imy with y iht hand, and pmp sihty nce  twice whie y make diect eye cntact. Avid widy pmpin the hand, eetin the pesn with a weak  st handshake, sin a cshin asp,  pacin y et hand h and n the pesn’s am whie y shake shake (except when y knw knw the pesn pe sn we). Y hand shd as be dy and wam t the tch. I y tend t pespie a t when y’e y’e nevs, dy y hands bee y meet smene. I  y hands ae chnicay cd t the tch, wam them p by bbin them tethe  n y y cthin. (o cse, d this ny i y’e y’e t  the pesn’s ine  siht  b bee ee y ente the m.) A weak, sweaty, sweaty,  cd handh andshake can et in the way way  makin a stn ist impessin. S pactice y handshake with iends and c-wkes c-wkes y tst. use thei eedback t hne this eetin ita.

us Dct ey Cntct In additin t havin a pessina appeaance and a im i m handshake, se diect eye eye cntact t enae thes. lk the the pesn in the eye  sevea secnds   a peid  time that ees nata and cmtabe t y. Then, beak away away biey and e-enae. Hwe Hweve ve,, avid cnstant, piecin eye cntact becase that makes pepe ee ncmtabe. ncmtab e. Diect eye eye cntact cmbined with diect anae is a pwe cmbinatin that wi make y cme acss as a staiht-wad, cnident, nnnsense pesn—the kind  individa the pepe ae me apt t pay attentin t and whse ideas they’e they’e me ikey t accept. Eye Contact and Shyness  I y’e s shy that y ind diect eye cntact diict, chaene yse  t eca the eye c  the pepe y meet and tak with din the day. T accmpish this, y mst k int thei eyes. This tick may hep y et past y shyness.

Eye Contact in a Small Group  In the wkpace, it’s cmmn t tak with tw  thee pepe in meetins, in haway cnvesatins, at nch, and in the sitatins. When y’e in a sma p, make diect eye cntact with everyone . Avid avin ne pesn with mst  a  y attentin. I y d, the thes may ee sihted, pehaps esent. It makes sense i y’e takin in a p t have ne and me eqent eye cntact with y bss. Ate a, this shws espect  his  he psitin and is apppiatey assetive, bt dn’t d this at the neect  thes. Eye Contact with a Large Group  I y’e speakin t a ae p  pepe, make diect eye cntact with individas  sectins  y adience instead  kin ve thei heads  twad twad the back  the m. lk int the eeyes yes  ne pesn ( addess a p  pepe)  tw t thee secnds, then mve n nti y ha have ve incded a aeas a eas  the m. once y’ve dne that, mve mve in the the diec-

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tin m pesn t pesn pe sn ( m sma sectin t sma sectin). This ends smthness and w t y eye cntact and makes a pesna cnnectin with the adience. adience . It takes time and pactice t ea ean n hw t d this whie ivin a pesentatin. once y’v y’vee masteed this techniqe, y adience wi be me eceptive bth t y and t what y have t say. Distracting Eye Movements  Cetain eye mvements can et in the way  y messae and assetiveness, and it’s best t avid them. f exampe, excessive binkin can make y appea nevs  insece. rin y eyes wi make y seem dismissive  cntempts. I y shit y eyes, y may k ike y’e yin and ae theee, ntstwthy.

us gd Pst Many  s emembe  paents and teaches mbin at s abt  p pste din  adescent yeas; they’d scd: “Stand p staiht. P y shdes back. Tck in y stmach.” And they wee iht. gd pste cnts as it aects hw pepe think  s. When y pactice d pste, y k cnident and centeed as y stand, sit, and wak. When You Stand 

Standin p staiht stai ht es iht t the ce  a d pste. Keep y y sh des back and dwn, and y chest t. T Tck ck in y stmach. Baance y stance by pttin y weiht weiht eqay n bth eet. eet. (Bendin y knees a bit wi hep y d this.) In pie, y bdy shd m a staiht, vetica ine m head t te. It shd k nata and eaxed. Hee ae sme thins th ins t avid when y stand: Avid Avid hnchin  ndin y shdes, shitin y weiht m t t t, standin with y ankes cssed, scatchin y e with y t, dancin and, pacin back and th, eanin aainst the wa wa  tabe, and s n. These actins ptay y as nevs and insece. In additin, avid standin with a iid  iid pste as pepe may view y y as tense and aessive. By the same tken, avid standin with y chin tited p as y tak with thes. th es. They ma may y see y as aant and impeis. imp eis. Pactice y stance in nt  a -enth mi. Take a k at yse  acin wad and in i n pie, and adjst y pste accdiny. When You Sit  gd sittin pste as cnveys se-cnidence. Sit p staiht with y hips back in the chai and y eet at n the . Y Y may pt ne e in nt  the the  a nata k. Hd y hands in y ap, ace dwn n y thihs,  cmtaby n a tabe. Hee ae sme thins t avid when y sit: Avid schin in y

chai, sittin nside the ede y ippin chai, chai, shitin  ckin in y chai, eanin twad tw ad ne  thethe, the ams  the chai, and swi swivein vein the chai. These actins make y k insece. Avid cssin y ams as this deensive pste pts a baie between yse and the the pesn.

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ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

In additin, avid cssin y es  ankes, becase this cmes acss as t casa  a bsiness bsi ness settin, and even de. And by a means, avid cssin y e at the knee and shakin y t. This cmes acss as t casa, and thes may view y as extemey nevs  impatient. finay, avid sittin in a iid  iid pste, which sests sests that y ae tense and inexibe. As with y stance, pactice y y sittin pste in nt  a -enth mi. Y miht ty this with dieent types  chais—a ea chai, an amchai, a swive swive chai chai,, and a st,  exampe. (I it’s a ta st, est y eet n the ede.) Watch yse acin the mi and in pie and then, adjst y pste. When You Walk 

When y y wak, se a nata ait, y shdes back, and y chin staiht. As y mve by the pepe, pass them n the iht, whie stayin y cse. Avid steppin aside i smene mves twad twad y in y path. That’s passive behavi that wi make y appea weak. Y have a iht t “stand” y nd. on the the hand, h and, y may decide t mv mvee t  the way way becase y want t be pite and that’s imptant t y. This is y chice t make. The advice is dieent  an aessive pesn tyin t becme me assetive. Avid Avid mvin int the pepe’s pep e’s paths as they appach them. Instead, stick t y wn path, and dn’t encach n thse  thes. As with standin and sittin, pactice y wak wak in nt  a -enth mi. Y can as pactice by kin at y eectin in ste windws. This This wi ive y a pie  y wakin pste—a d pespective t have.

Pps gsts T este with ppse pp se means mvin y ams and hands han ds in nata, nata , wecdinated mtins that sitaby eince the wds and meanin  y messae. They’e nt haheated hahea ted  tenta tentative. tive. Y Y cmmit t each mvement cmpetey cmpet ey,, yet y d this me  ess n ncnsci cnscisy. sy. T T pt it i t anth anthe e way, way, estes w t m yabt messae. t pan ahead   time  think mch themIasy yty speak, yy mayestes becme se-cnscis. And nce nc e y becme se-cnscis, y estes becme nnata, stited,  ncdinated. gestes shd be pptinate t the space. Ths, i y’e y’e in a ae ae m, sch as an aditim, se bade and me sweepin estes than y wd in a sma m. othewise, they wi nt be nticed. And avid the win, as they can make y y appea ncmta ncmtabe be  insece, cmbative  aessive:

•  Nevs, andm estes

  ovese  estes estes payin yin with bjects ike pe pens ns and •  Tappin n the tabe, desk,  pdim, pa papecips,  jinin thins in y pcket, ik ikee ke keys ys y hands (except a pinte) •  Hdin ntes  a pen  the bjects in y estin with y y ists,  pintin y y •  Pndin n the tabe  pdim, estin ine at pepe

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ASSErTIVE NoNVErBAl CoMMuNICATIoN  

75

As with pste, ty pacticin estes in nt  a -enth mi. Think  smethin smet hin y w want ant t say t smene aatt wk and then say it ad. ad .

Watch y pste and estes, and evaate hw y messae cmes acss.. r acss repeat epeat the messae mes sae bt adjst y estes. Then mve mve n t anthe messae, pehaps ne that’s me emtin emtina a  diict diic t t cnvey. cnvey. Wkin with a mi ives y immediate eedback n y bdy anae. It wi hep y devep devep ppse estes that k nata and that eince what y want t say.

Cnt Y fc epssns facia expessin is pbaby the mst pwe m  nnveba cmmnicatin. It tes s i pepe ae happy, any, cis, ea, and s th. And we’e eneay me tstin  what acia expessins te s than   spken wds. Y expessins shd sh d match the cntent    y messae and the sitsi tatin at hand. They shd as espnd apppiatey t smene ese’s messae. T T d this, y need t knw when t smie, wn, ah, and s n.  n. Y Y need t knw when hw t have pen y expessin and when t hide y eeins. Y need t knw t an cnt expessins witht kin btic. Cntin y expessins is especiay imptant din netiatins and pemance eviews, and when y have t discipine an empyee— cnvesey—when y’e y’e bein eviewed  eceivin neative eedback. T becme me assetive in y acia expessins, avid: y ips; bth make y cme acss as nevs and •  Bitin  wettin y

scaed. y deiv deive e a seis  citica messae,  when when smene •  Smiin when y ese deives deives ne; that sends a cnsin messae.   Tihtenin  jttin y y jaw; that cmes acss as iid  aessive. aessive. ane and aes•  Psin y ips and ain y nstis; bth sina ane sin. •  Smikin; it makes y appea aant.

Y can wk n y acia expessins in nt  a -enth, bedm,  bathm mi. Think  smethin y want t te a ceae at wk and pactice it, mnitin and adjstin adj stin y acia expessin as y speak. Think  hw y ceae miht espnd. Watch and adjst y acia expessin as y “isten” t the espnse. Nw, hee’s the bi test. Pactice a me diict cmmnicatin, sch as askin y manae y aise  timetimid,   . What  intena eeins have as y y spke? Wee ya nevs,  aaid? aai d? Hw we did y mask thse emtins? finay, think  a messae whee an pen expessin is appp apppiate, iate, sch as paisin a c-wk c-wke e and pactice it. Hw des y ace k when y deive this messae vess the me diict ne? Cntine t wk n y acia expessin by deiv deivein ein a vaiety  messaes.

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76  

ASSErTINg YourS ourSElf Elf AT WorK

ect vc Dy Hw y speak can be as imptant as what y say. Eective vca deivey eqies attentin attenti n t esnance, vme, eney eve, tne, speakin ate, ency,, ennciatin, and iinectin. ency nectin. Resonance  Sme pepe ae bn with the esnant vice  a adi annnce and they’e they’ e ten the envy  the est  s. Y Yet, et, mst pepe have me than adeqate vices that with ine-tnin can seve them we in the wkpace and in the aeas  thei ives. Vey ew pepe have an iitatin vice. Thse wh d can say et hep m vca caches. Hw can y speak in iche and nde tnes? The answe is beath sppt and vice pacement. I y’ve eve taken actin  sinin essns, y’ve y’ ve had expeience with bth. Beath sppt beins with beathin m m y diapham as we as y ns. The The diapham is a memba membane ne that sep-

aates they abdmen y beathe deepy deepy, , it is with ai and sppts vice.and T chest. knw When i y’e beathin m y diapham, pt y hands n the sides  y ts with y ines acin acin backwads, jst bew y ibcae. Take a deep beath thh y nse. Y shd ee y ts expand n bth sides and an d twad twad y back. I y dn’t, y y may be takin a shaw beath that ses ny y ns. Nw, Nw, ty aain nti y ee the ai expand y diapham. Deep beathin is a d way t eax y msces when y’e nevs. In additin t beath sppt, y can enhance vca qaity thh ppe vice pacement. A t  pepe speak as i thei vice is tapped at the back  thei that. This pdces a tta snd that acks vme. othes speak with a nasa qaity, which inicay means they’e not  not sin sin thei nse. (I y pinch y nstis whie speakin, y’ y’ knw what nasa snds ike.) Ppe pacement ees  ees as i y’ y’e e thwin y vice w wad ad past the   y mth thh y nse and cheekbnes twad istenes. Mvin y vice wad in this way takes advantae  esnatin eect  the stcte  the bnes and acia cavities. D this and y wi hea a dieence di eence in vca qaity. use an adi ecde t wk n y vca esnance. Speak a cmmn sayin ike “a penny saved s aved is a penny ea eaned” ned” with y typica typ ica deivey deivey.. Nw, Nw, take a deep beath and a nd speak it aain as y visaize y vice mvin wad. repay what y’ve y’ve ecded and nte the dieence di eence between the ist i st and secnd deivey. Keep pacticin nti y vice esnates with cnidence and pwe.

Volume  When y y speak p, speak t! What is the beneit  havin a antastic idea i pepe can’t hea it? I y speak t sty, pepe wi have t stain t hea and y wi cme acss as timid and passive. As, match the vme  y vice t the size  the m. f f exampe, i y take pat in a meetin in a ae cneence m, y’ tak de than y wd in a ne-nne encnte in a sma ice. Wheeve Wheeve y ae, se stn beath sppt

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ASSErTIVE NoNVErBAl CoMMuNICATIoN  

 

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and thw y vice wad, wad, as y did in ceatin a me esnant esnant snd. At ist, it may ee t y ike y’e shtin, even in pivate cnvesatins. Bt esist the temptatin t  back t y qiet se. I, n the the hand, y eneay speak at a vme that wd shatte saety ass, y’e cmin acss as bmbastic and aessive. aessive. Y’ Y’ need t tne it dwn. As y ain me expeience, y’ ean hw t aise  we the vme  y vice  damatic aect. a ect. This wi add a spise eement t y deivey that wi hep et and keep pepe’s attentin and as a s et y pints acss in a me pwe way. finay,, avid dppin y vice as y each the end  y sentences, finay pesentatins, and speeches. Sme pepe dp thei vme when when they ee nevs  se-cnscis. Hw y end is vita t the sccess  y cmmnicatin. It’s the ast thin pepe hea, and it emains in thei memy. T be cnident abt what y have t say, aways end stn. It wi hep t pactice speakin t, tnin dwn, and vayin the vme  y vice with an adi ecde. Energy  Speakin with eney is nt the same as speakin dy; it’s abt shwin passin and enthsiasm (Aednd, (A ednd, 1991). A istess vice cmes acss as i  the speake desn’t cae. This speake wi ai t ay istenes t his  he case  maintain thei attentin. Speakin with eney, hweve, demnstates that what y say mattes t y and, by extensin, that it shd matte t thes. “Enthsiasm is cntais,” wites lani Aednd in How to 

Present Like a Pro , “Y adience wi catch y”y (Ibid enthsiasm (Ibid  .). I y dn’t .). beieve it, pactice speakin with passin anditwm atch hw inects thes. As with the aspects  y vice, se an adi ecde t pactice vca eney. Tone 

Vice tne cmmnicates emtins and shd cnm t y messae, messae, t the sitatin, and t y istenes. Y wd nt se a chee vice  a smbe messae,  exampe,  a stident vice  a cmpiment. In this espect, the se  vca tne is simia t acia  acia expessins. Y Y  need t knw when and hw t mask y emtins and when and hw t evea them with y vice tne. In bein assetive, ass etive, y y mst have cmmand  y vice, whie whie y stay te t yse and espect  thes. In the wds, y mst avid awin y vice t be vetaken by emtins—ness it’s apppiate. I,  instance, y vice snds chked p  shaky when y state an idea in a meetin  espnd t citicism, y cme acss as ihtened and timid. In cntast, i y v vice ice snds chked p  shaky when y y  speak at a memia sevice  a ceae, y wi seem mved and cmpassinate—  bth apppiate t the sitatin. I y wee t stie y eeins in that sitatin, y’d cme acss as cd  heatess. In bein assetive, et y tne  vice pject y inne cnidence and tstwthiness. As with the aspects  y v vice, ice, se an adi ecde t pactice y  © American Management Management Association. Association. All All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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tne. Think  sitatin si tatin at wk that pvkes stn eeins withi within n y, then cat a espnse. espns e. Is this a sitatin in which y vice shd mask y emtins? I s, aim  a tne that snds cam and in cnt. on the the hand, shd y vice evea y emtins in this sitatin? I s,   a tne snds te t the sitatin and yse. Cntine pacticin messaes that have stn ndeyin emtins. listen t the payback and adjst y tne. Speaking Rate  on aveae, pepe speak between 125 and 150 wds pe minte (Kiey, 1997). Within that ane, they snd cnident and nata. once thei ate exceeds excee ds that ane, speakes snd insece, as i they can’t wait wait t et t the

inish ine. istenes can’t wait,wh eithe, becase they’eappea exhasted m the ide. onThei the the hand, pepe speak t swy nse   what wds wds t se, which des nt inspi inspiee cnidence in thei istenes. T avid acin thh y messaes— dain thh them—  have cnidence that y have smethin vaabe t say say,, and that what y’e tein pepe matches the ccasin. Y Y  can bid that cnidence by knwin y mateia we and by havin easns t back p what y say. Pactice y speakin ate by sin an adi ecde, ecde, bt avid cntin the wds. Instead, isten t the payback and jde whethe y speed snds nata. Then, make adjstments as needed.

Fluency  fency is a mease  hw we y vice ws m ne thht t the next. f f the mst pat, y deivey shd be smth, with nata pa pases ses between cases and sentences. These pases wk in mch the same as they d in witin, whee cmmas, semicns, cns, and peids indicate the enth  a pase. In witin, the peid stands  a ne pase than a cmma. It’s the same when speakin; y’ y’ pase ne at the end  a sentence and a paaaph than y wi between between an penin case  phase and the est  the sentence. Y a shd be t have a nata w t y vice, jst as y aim  a nata speakin ate. T have a ent stye, avid jammin sentences tethe. Din s wi aw y istenes t absb the pints y’e makin. “rn-n” speakin makes y appea nevs and insece ins ece  aessive, as i pasin pa sin miht ive smene a chance t jmp in and chaene y pint. Avid n and nnata pases between wds and sentence aments as these ceate a chppy deivey deiv ey that makes y snd nse  yse. In additin, avid ie expessins sch as “m” and “h,” and ie wds, sch as “ike” and “y knw.” fies et in the way  a ent deivey and bsce the messae. When y ee an “m”  any the ie n the tip n y tne, pase biey instead. This wi snd ike a nata beak t y istenes, even i  it ees ike a ap t y. once y devep devep a nata speakin ate, se an adi ecde t pactice. recd and pay back y y messae. f fcs cs speciicay n the hythm and w  y wds. They shd snd smth and cnvesatina and be ie-ee. Cnt the nmbe  “ms” and the ies i es and eiminate them in w-p ecdins. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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Enunciate with Clarity  Ennciatin ( aticatin) has t d with the caity c aity  speakin. W When hen y ennciate we, istenes can ceay cea y ndestand evey w wd d y say. say. As a chid, y ma may y have had n pac pacticin ticin tne-twistes ike “Pete Pipe picked a peck  picked p icked peppes” peppe s” in de t pactice pacti ce y “P’s” “P’s”  “She ses seashes by the seashe” t pactice y “S’s and “E’s.” Y may have hned y vwes with hymes ike,  ike, “Hw nw bwn cw cw.” .” These execises wee hep becase y had t pen p en y mth and eax y jaw in de t d them we—a techniqe that wks at any ae. Bth penin y mth

and eaxin jawstne jaw, , an with the cect pnnciatin pnnci atin  ccnsnants nsnants and v vwes, wes, hepsy ense ennciatin.

Hee ae sme thins t avid: wds; these make y cme acss as caeess, •  Mmbin  sin y wds; shy,  intimidated. make y appea sti and aessive, aessive, •  ove-pnctatin cnsnants; these make  as tentative tentative and vey cncened with makin a mistake. I y have a speech impediment, sch as a sttte, isp,  the inabiity t pnnce a patica ette  cmbinatin  ettes,  a ein  einaqest accent, y mayme ee insece insecity canwith aecta y t becme asset ive.abt assetive. Yspeakin. may indThis it hep t wk speech theapist  cach. Aain, pactice with an adi ecde. Deive a messae y want t say t smene at wk, eithe ne-n-ne  in a meetin, then pay back the ecdin. Hw distincty did y speak? Did y mmbe  s wds tethe? Wee y vey pecise t the pint  sndin insece? reecd y messae and keep pacticin nti y wds ae cisp and cea. Inflection  Inectin is the vaiatin in the pitch  y vice. When When y speak with in-

ectin, y vice snds andabt ebient, instead at and wi d.In enea, when y speak y withivey passin a bt a tpic, vca  inectin w. Y vice wi in with a vaiety  pitches that snd nata, athe than pe-panned. In the wds, inectin is nt smethin y chat t ahead  time; it bbbes p and t m within. Hw mch y vay y pitch shd depend n the adience and n the sitatin. The key is t snd nata. f exampe, se stn vca vaiety in meetins and din pesentatins t keep the adience inteested and aet. In an empye empyeee pemance eview, eview, thh, especiay i y’ y’e e ivin neative neati ve eedback, tne dwn y inectin and speak in a atte vice. T T mch vca vaiety vaiety in this sitatin miht detact m the seisness  the sitatin.

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Tp: inctn

• Avid a sin-sn deivey; that is, a patten  pedictabe pitches.

Aside m annyin y adience, it wi make y cme acss as ncmtabe  nevs. sya bes in wds. • D nt stess the wn wds in sentences  the wn syabes It makes y snd ncdinated and t  sync with y messae. vid y mntne vice; is, i s, a vice that acks p pitch itch vaiatin. IItt wi •A make ya cme acss asthat ninvved and disinteested. • Avid aisin y pitch at the end  a sentence that’s nt a qestin. Sme pepe d this when the they y want t be cabative and cnsideate. I y want t send that nnveba messae,  ahead. Bt be awae that y istene may view y as tentative.

usin an adi ecde  ecde is as an exceent way way t pactice vca inectin. recd a messae y’d y’d ike t deive in a meetin  pesentatin. listen t the payback t hea hw we y y  vay y pitch. Adjst and e-ecd y messae. Then, ecd a messae t smene whse behavi y’d ike t chane. Pay it back t hea i y pitch eects the me athitative nate  the messae. I y need t wk me n inectin, e-ecd y messaes and keep pacticin.

Exercise 4-3 Putting the Components C omponents of As Assertive sertive Nonverbal N onverbal Communication Together

 

In this ex exercise, ercise, you’ll put together key components of assertive asser tive nonverba nonverball communication (ANC). You’ll dress in business formal wear and do an exercise that involves a sit-down discussion. Use a video camera to record a discussion between you and another person in the workplace (a volunteer). If you have a tripod, you’ll need nee d only one person per son to help with this exercise. (Set the camera on the tripod and punch the record button before you begin.) If you don’t hav have e a tripod, you’ll need two people: one to act as your discussion partner par tner and another to operate the video camera. (Use a still camera and tape recorder as a substitute, if you don’t have a video camera.) You and the o other ther person should sit in two cha chairs irs that face each other, yet angled slightly sli ghtly toward the camera. Adjust the camera to record both of you from just above the ankles to a few inches above the top of the head. Once the camera has begun recording, reco rding, hold a give-an give-and-take d-take discussi discussion on that lasts from three to five minutes. Then, stop the video recorder. Wait until you’re alone to evaluate your nonverbal communication performance. Then, follow these steps: 1. Rew Rewind ind the vide video o and press tthe he mute b butto utton n on your te telev levision ision or re remote mote con control. trol. 2. Pla Play y back back th the e sit sit-do -down wn discuss discussion ion w withou ithoutt sou sound. nd. 3. Wa Watch tch stra straight ight thro through ugh with without out takin taking g no notes tes.. 4. Repla Replay y the video and fill in a description of each category o off assertiv assertive e non nonverba verball comm communicaunication, except “Effective vocal delivery.” You may stop and start, or use the pause button to do this. 5. Once y you’ve ou’ve filled in a category category,, determine if your nonver nonverbal bal commu communication nication is passive ((P), P), aggressive (Ag), or assertive (A) and place an “X” or checkmark in the appropriate column. Exercise 4-3 continues on next page.

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Exercise 4-3 continued from previous page. 6. Ne Next, xt, go b back ack to tthe he begin beginning ning of tthe he tape a and nd repl replay ay it w with ith the s sound ound on on.. 7. Fill in the “Ef “Effec fective tive v vocal ocal deliv delivery” ery” categ category ory and determ determine ine if your your speaki speaking ng style (n (not ot the content of your message) is i s passive, aggressive, or assertive. 8. Then, listen to what y you ou say (your con content) tent) to evaluat evaluate e if y your our ver verbal bal and non nonverbal verbal com commumunication are in sync. Sit-Down  Discussion 

Use of space

Description of Behaviors

I appear to be within the proper   boun  bo undar darie iess he here  re .

Professional appearance Eye contact Posture

I’m slouching.

Purposeful gestures Controlled facial expressions Effective vocal delivery a. Resonance b. Volu olume me c. Ener Energy gy d. Tone e. Speaking rate f. Fluency g. Enunciation h. Inflection As a final step in this exercise exercise,, complete the sections below. below. Observations/Comments:

P

Ag

A

What I will do to improve:

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a NoNverbal CommuNiCaTioN   JourNal Mch can be eaned by keepin a jna in which y ecd daiy exampes  nnveba nnveba cmmnicatin. Jna-k Jna-keepin eepin ces a pesn t eect n thins that happened happen ed din the day day.. Y Y pbaby dn’t have the time  iinteest nteest t d this evey day, bt ty din ne day  each week  a mnth. Seect any day  the week t make y enty, enty,  exampe n T Tesdays, esdays, then visit y jna jna at the end  each Tesday in each  the next   ive weeks. reect back n the encntes y had din the day t detemine i y: y appeaance. •  lked pessina in y eyee cntact. •  Made diect ey imy. •  Shk hands imy. with app apppiate piate vme, eney, eney, and idity. id ity. ••   Spke used apppiate space. waked with d pste. •  Std, sat, and waked •  gested with ppse. •  used the ppe vice tne. y acia expessins. •  Cnted y Cmment n these in i n y jna. Nte what y did we and what y need t wk n, then keep pacticin. remembe remembe,, y can as ask as k  eed eedback m iends and c-wkes c-wkes whm y tst.

Think About It . . .   If you’re a manager, does your body language, tone of voice, and eye contact send metamessages

that employees employees might m misinterpret? isinterpret? Explain.

Do you use a different nonverbal communication style with your employees than you do with your peers and superiors? superiors? If so so,, is each style appropriate?

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Think About It continued from previous page. If you are not a manager, but a team member, do you use a different style of nonverbal communication with your co-workers co-workers than you do with your manager? If so so,, is that style appropriate? Is it assertive or passive? Explain.

aligN Your verb erbal al aND NoNverbal CommuNiCaTioN We nted in the ist paes  this chapte that cmmnicatin has thee eements: what y say, hw y say it, and what the istene sees (bdy anae). Cmmnicatin is mst eective when these thee eements ae

ained—thatt is, when they ained—tha they send the same mess messae. ae. When y y  wds say ne thin, y vice vme and tne and bdyT anae a say anthe anthe, , the istenebt eceives a mixed and cnsin cnsin messae. T  appeciate hw ainment happens, cnside the win sitatin in which a sbdinate achieves psitive ainment amn the thee eements  cmmnicatin. As y ead this sty,, picte yse in a simia sitatin. sty Sivia’s manae caed he int his ice. “Sivia,” said raph, “I have an assinment I want t discss with y. Pease sit dwn.” As she sat, Sivia eaned wad in he chai and aced he bss diecty. She ked at raph with a siht smie. She pened he hands in nt  he, as i t say, “I’m pen. let me hea what y have t say.” “Sivia, we need t ind t what added sevices  best cstmes miht be kin , and I need smene wh can desin a svey sve y qestinnaie, et them t t the iht pepe, and anayze cstme espnses nce we et them. Can y take that n this mnth?” Sivia ndded aimativey. aimativey. “I can d it i t this mnth i I pt ne the pject n the back bne.” She cntined with a qizzica k n he ace, “What type  cstme espnses ae y kin : qantitative  anecdta?” raph aised his eyebws. “gd qestin. What wd y ecmmend?” Sivia eaned wad and spke in an even, assetiv assetivee vice, and with a cnident k n he ace. “I beieve that a cmbinatin   the tw wd wk wk best,” sh shee said aisin ais in tw ines twad raph,

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“Sme pepe in this cmpany espnd best t data, whie thes ike t hea cstme espnse in thei wn wds.” “gd idea,” said raph with a bad smie. “Makes sense t me—et t it!” “Wi d,” said Sivia enthsiasticay, standin t . Then she pased and tk a step cse t he bss. “raph, what st  deivey iv ey date ae y thinkin abt  this jb? My caenda is petty packed iht nw,” she said, hdin he hands pwad, as i spptin a ad  wk, and penin he ey eyes es wide. “We,” espnded raph, “Hw abt ne mnth m tday.”

Y ve t it, Sivia said dy with a bad smie and a cenched ist thst th st wad. “I’ hav havee it dne by then.” In this exampe, Sivia vey sccessy ained what she said with hw she said it, and sppted bth with nnveba ces. This is exacty what y mst d as a s y wk twad twad becmin a me assetive assetive cmmnicat at wk. Tp: b Ys   Hee’ss a ina tip that y shd take t heat. Y nnveba anae Hee’ shd eect the kind  pesn the pepe ndestand y t be. I  y depat t mch—in vice, pste, inectin—m what they aeady ndestand abt y, they wi qestin y enineness: “What’s with Bb? Has he been taken ve by space aiens?” f instance, i y ae knwn as an even-tempeed pesn—smene whse ane  dispayed emtins desn’t swin vey a in eithe diectin—vedin y emtina dispay wi seem atiicia and insincee t c-wkes. As y ty t new techniqes, be se t inteate them int y cent stye  nn-veba cmmnicatin which wi ceate bette ainment. Dn’t behave as thh y ae smene ese!

re

p

In this chapte, y eaned that ace-t-ace messaes have thee eements: eement s: what y y  say, say, hw y say it (sch as v vice ice tne and vme), and the nnveba nnveba bdy anae shwn t the istene. The The atte tw ms  nnveba cmmnicatin accnt  the aest ptin  the ace-t-ace messaes y send—38 pecent and 55 pecent espectivey espectivey,, accdin t ne stdy. Y as eaned that i y visa and vca

messaes cntadict the wds say, pepe swayed me by the nnveba than veba pat yy messae. That’swi whybe y need t maintain ainment between what y say, hw y say it, and y bdy anae. Many  the nnveba ces y send ( eceiv eceivee m the thes) s) have eithe passive, aessive, aessive,  assetive chaactei chaacteistics. stics. f eexampe, xampe, a pesn pe sn in a passive mde tends t avid eye cntact, keep his  he head w, and speak in AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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a w vice. An assetive pesn in the same sitatin wi maintain eye eye cn tact, have eect pste, and speak with a stn, we-mdated vice. Six dimensins  nnveba cmmnicatin wee pesented and expained: bdy mvement, bdy cntact (tchin), eye eye cntact, intepesna in tepesna space, sience, and paaanae. Whie many aspects  nnveba cmmnicatin ae nivesa, sch as smiin, thes ae ctay inenced. Bdy mvement mvement incdes estes, aci acia a expessins, pste, and manneisms. Eatic estes,  exampe, say ceate with ack  cnidence. Bdy cntact is cmmny shwn thh handshakes and the ms  tchin, sme  which may be peceived peceived as aaessi essive. ve. The The es  ey eyee cntact vay with ctes. In the united States, Bitain, Canada, and in Nthen and Easten Epe, pepe expect diect eye eye cntact with the thes. s. Stain at anthe pesn is cnsideed aessive aessive whie the ack  diect eye eye cntact as viewed as a passive. passive. Hw pepe se intepesna space pvides anthe indicatin   whethe they ae passive, aessive, aessive,  assetive. Cta anthpist, anthp ist, Edwad T. Ha chaacteized the se  space int  cateies—intimate, pesna, scia, and pbic—with each deined by the distance m a patica individa. ind ivida. T T  be an assetive pesn, y mst bth de deend end y space bndaies m invasin by thes, and be sensitive t the space eqiements  the pepe y inteact with. Sience has nnveba qaities. leavin t mch  a sience ap between ne pesn’s statement and y espnse may ive a sina that y ae nse  yse. on the the hand, maintainin a ap  sience between anthe pesn’s tbst and y epy may make y y appea cam, c, and in cnt. Paaanae invves a vca aspects  messaes that we d nt expess in wds: vice tne, speakin ate, inectin, vme, eney eve, pitch, accent, ency, and s n. and that cyin ae exampes  paaanae, as ae the “h-hh” andlahin “ike” ies ppate  cmmnicatin with thes. The chapte as advises eades t keep a jna in which he  she ecds daiy wkpace expeiences with wi th nnveba cmmnicatin. Keepin a jna ces a pesn pes n t cnscisy eect n thins that happened din the day and hw he  she handed them. finay, ainment between the thee eements  cmmnicatin—what we say, hw we say it, and the nnveba ces assciated with each—was ndesced in a case exampe.

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Review Questions  

1.  The bsiness phase “am’s-enth eatinship” eates t: (a) the a a phase phase  pesn pesna a space. space. (b) intima intimate te space space.. (c (c)) pbi pbicc spa space ce.. (d) the nea nea phase  scia space. space.

1. (a)

  2.  Which  the win nnve nnveba ba ces indicate passive passive behavi? (a) Cnted vice, vice, diect eye eye cntact, back sappin sappin,, inteptin (b) Cnstant eye eye cntact, tiht jaw, jaw, sti bdy anae, inapppiate tch (c) fidetin fidetin,, kin dw dwn, n, apid speech, smpin smpin pste (d) Pessina appeaance, im handshake, handshake, id speech, d d pste

2. (c)

  3.  Metacmmnicatin is the: (a) n-tem n-tem meanin meanin  a mess messae. ae. (b) ae-then ae-then-ie -ie mea meanin nin  a messa messae. e. (d) impied meanin  a messae beynd beynd the acta w wds. ds. (e) caey caey ca cated ted syntax syntax  a messae. messae.

3. (c)

  4.  When takin with thes in a sma p, p, y shd: 4. (a) (a) make diect eye eye cntact with each pesn, witht avin ne at the expense  thes. (b) make avid diect makin makineye eye eye with cntact anyne. ne. (c) eydiect e cntact thewith mstany p pwe we pesn in the p mst  the time. (d) diect y y cmmnicatin t tthe he pesn in the cente  the p.   5.  Accdin t eseach cndcted by D. Abet Mehabian, the veba pat  a messae accnts  _________ pecent  what a istene peceives. (a) 38 (b) 93 (c) 7 (d) 55

5. (c)

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a ou  W Learning Objectives  Objectives  By th nd o thi chapt, yo hod b ab to: o  dopin poiti • Idntiy n action o



iibiity at wo. Dic th connction connctio n btwn ati atin n and tain ponibiity o on’ pomanc.

Now that yo ndtand how to b ati—thoh yo pch, non-

ba c, and o oth—th nxt chan i to idntiy and xpoit oppotniti to dmontat ati bhaio wh yo w wo. o. Thi chapt wi how yo how to cat a mo poiti and iib pnc in yo poiona i. H yo’ ind n pactica action yo can ta towad that oa. On ino ino catin a daiy action pan. Th oth o thi o a ponibiity, omajo on’ ction cc and chapt ai i atabot wo.tain Popownhip, who do thi iwd a ton, conidnt, and ati a ti. . A in oth chapt, yo’ yo’ ind xci and Thin Abot It mnt that chan yo to pond to what yo’ and.

Developing positive visibility at Work Ha yo yo noticd how pai pop m to bnd into th bacond in th hop o at th oic? Thy’ Thy’ qit and aab, and thy don’t ca attntion to thm. Thy Thy o abot thi ta mo o    iniiby withot  © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

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main wa, wa, wo oiciny dint, pain p. y Athoh many o th ida do ida thioicin w,o thy don’t awa away ma th ct whn thindibo i pain ot pomotion o pm ainmnt. Ha thi bn yo xpinc? li yon yon , th nati o ca conition o thi ood wo—conition wo— conition i an impotant hman nd—and a tatd  tatd whn a thy t i a pat on th had and om wod o pai p ai addd to thi anna pomanc iw (which diappa into th ponn i). Th oya “wo b” notic oth oth  pain pai n thm by and wond why. why. “What’ o pcia abot h?” “H’ jt a -pomot,” th thy y otn compain. A yo on o th had-woin bt iniib pop in yo oanization? On th oth nd o th continm, th a ai ai pop who bha and commnicat in way that ca attntion to thm. Thy Thy cam, bad, and by. Thy d down co-wo and bodinat in ont o  oth. Thy a comptiti in th xtm. fo thm, wo i i a zom am in which anyon’ anyon’ ain mt podc a o o omon . Conqnty,, winnin i a mt o thm. I thi how pop at wo iw yo? qnty Th point o th dciption i not to typcat pop, bt to t that bin paiy paiy iniib o ainin iibiity thoh ai ai bhaio

won t bnit yo yo ca in th on n. Th on-n winn winn  in th modn wopac a tho who achi poiti iibiity. Poiti iibiity man that thy and thi wo a noticd, that thy tand ot om th cowd, and that thy ha a poiti aa. In thi ction, yo’ an abot n action that can hp yo cat poi poiti ti iibiity wh yo wo. T Th h n ati action a: ti

1.  spa p and ha yo yo iw iw. . 2.  Dia Dia  aaby aa by.. 3.  Paticipat actiy actiy in mtin. yo o own wn bt champion. 4.  B yo 5.  Hand compimnt compimnt w with ith ac. ac. contcti citicim a a -impomnt -impomnt oppotnity. oppotnity. 6.  loo at contcti 7.  Cat and oowin oowin a daiy atin atin pan. ac #1: s U d sh yu vw  vw  I yo’ on th pai id o atin, yo nd to ai yo poi. Yo mt bcom mo iib in a poiti way. Th it action tp towad doin that i to pa p and ha yo iw whn whn appopiat oppo oppotniti tniti pnt thm. By appopiat, w man whn whn yo intt a at ta and whn yo ha omthin poiti to contibt. Bin with a, inoma ncont, ch a pontano p ontano con conation ation with pop yo tt at wo, conation in th haway, at nch, and at th photocopy machin. u ati commnication to t pop now, now, in aA poiti andtodict whatyo thinand abot th topic bin qtion h owway, how that yo’ yo’ inod inttd. stand otdicd. by binin a nw ida into th mix, o by poity chanin th diction o th conation. Aoid, Aoid, how how ,, th tmptation to initiat oip o pad p ad mo.  mo. Yo want to b aociatd with poiti ida and i. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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Onc yo’ bcom d to pain pain  p with pop yo now and  comotab with, widn yo cic. sha yo ida and iw with pop with whom yo   comotab, phap yo pio o mana. Th’ Th ’ no h h; do thi thi at a pac that wo o yo. I yo’ on th ai id o th atin ca, p in mind that th y wod wod i “h “ha.” a.” Conation a i-and-ta i-and-ta ncont; tat yo iw withot tain o th aiwa o tyin to owhm oth iw. Dmontat ppot o thin that matt to yo, bt ao how an intt in th iw o oth and what matt to thm. lt oth “i”

and aow yo to ta. rit th tmptation to do a th tain. And whn oth ha th oo, itn with yo  attntion.

Exercise 5-1 Breaking Out of Passivity

 

Are you are a passive, sta staying-in-the-backg ying-in-the-background round sort of person, even when people discuss workrelated matters that involve you? It’s time to move away from that position and assume some positive visibility. visibility. Start by imagining yourself doing what Action #1 advises. Imagine Imagine that you’re taking a coffee break with your supervisor and two co-workers. Your supervisor begins talking about a work matter that involves you directly. Describe one such work matter that involves you now:

As you sit at the table, and think back to the previous chapter, chapter, describe the posture and facial expression you would use to demonstrate interest and assertiveness as you listen to your supervisor talk:

Your supervisor has finished his or her remarks and is looking for a response from someone at the table. His or her eyes meet yours, as if to say, “What do  you  think about that?” You begin your verbal response. What facial, body, and hand movements would make your response visible and assertive?

 © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AsserTINg YOurs Ourself elf AT WOrk

ac #2: pc ac  M  M  Onc yo  comotab pain p in a ma op, yo’ yo’  ady o th cond action tp, which i to ta pat in mtin wh yo pa to mo pop and wh mo i at ta. Yo Yo may  tntati tntati and anxio abot thi at it, i t, pciay i yo’ yo’  d to hodin bac yo thoht and qity itnin to what oth ha to ay. Yo it attmpt at paticipatin may not com otTy th way yo bt, i i  any i, a pac pactic tic wi ma thm btt. to doyo thintnd, oowin whn oppotniti to pa p at mtin pnt thm: yo ida din baintomin  ion. ion. •  exp yo “W cod ta saah’ ood ida a tp •  Add to oth pop’ ida, ch a “W

th by . . . .” iw, aon with ppotin a•  stat yo opinion o xp a contay iw, mnt, ch a “I dia. In act, w hod do jt th oppoit. And h’ why . . . .” want to b  that I ndtand yo poition. •  A qtion, ch a “I want Wod yo xpain how yo pan wi bnit o ctom?” On thin to aoid, thoh, i to impy imp y pat what omon ha aa aady dy aid. Pop iw that a a wat o tim. I yo’ on th ai id o th atin ca, yo may ha a habit o intptin oth din mtin, ot-hotin thm, tain o thi conation, o oth npaant bhaio. Yo now ha th too to b dict withot bin ht o d. Ty ot tho too and ob th pon. Yo may ind that now pop a mo wiin to itn to yo ida and na in diao, wha bo thy inty cod thi am, itd what yo had to ay, o pondd in om oth nati way. Ppaation, o co, co , wi i i thi action tp a tmndo tmndo boot, paticay i oth pop a in th habit o comin to mtin nppad. Ppaation wi ma yo  mo comotab and conidnt; it wi ao i yo mo ammnition whn dicion bin. i Th mtin anda i yo bt too o ppaation. I th mtin ad han’t nt an anda o dicion topic, a o on. Thn, iw th topic and ppa p pa thoohy thoohy.. Doin o wi poid yo with th inomation that yo nd to pa with conidnc and an d to ppot yo iw. A ppad mtin paticipant pa ticipant ma a ood impion, pciay whn oth paticipant a impy “winin it.” Ati and ppad paticipation in mtin i an xcnt way way to ain poiti iibiity in yo oanization.

ac #3: D a  a  Yo ao ain poiti iibiity whn yo xp a w-aond contay iwpoint o an atnati co o action withot pttin oth down—  in oth wod, whn yo dia aaby. Yo ha a iht to at yo iw on i that matt to yo. And yo hod aim to win—bt not by dtoyin o mocin pop who hod an oppoin iw. That’ what a-

AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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i pop otn do, and that bhaio otn ad to thi nta ndoin. Thin o how yo’d yo’d pond i omon aid, “That’ not iht and, thmo, it’ it’ a tpid ida.” Th w wod od b a ica action: yo mc wod tin, yo jaw wod tihtn, and yo hat at wod i. Yo’d ha a nati iw owith thataain.” pon and pobaby t yo, “Thi in’t a pon I’ do bin fan dicion o i i hathy and aab whi diaab amnt a not. Thy Thy poaiz pop an and d ndmin nitd  ot. ot. Oanization a wa wand nd whn pop who hod b woin toth paat thm into hoti camp. H a xamp o tatmnt ta tmnt yo can  to ma ma a diain tatmnt withot bin diaab: o) “I” tatmnt: “ray, “ray, I’m concnd abot a bot th a•  u (bt don’t o)

n to in thi contact. Th bid m o-tat. XYZ ha a ptation o owbain timat and thn biin o cot o on. n. so, can w a to pt ot mo rfP?” “That’ an inttin ida. Wod Wod yo ao conid_____________?” •  “That’ “I’d i to xp anoth iwpoint.” •  “I’d “H’ anoth w way ay to oo at it.” •  “H’ “lt’ ao xpo xpo th ip id.” •  “lt’ “That’ on poibiity. poibiity. Anoth option wod b b to______________.” •  “That’ “What i w ______ _____________ ______________ ______________ _____________ _____________ ___________?” ____?” •  “What

expin diamnt can cat conict, which i why o many pop aoid tain i with thi bo o co-wo. co-wo. Conict Coni ct can b motiona, t, cat a contt that a pon cod  o. o. Nth, acat ctain and o may conict i ncay i oanization (and indiida) aim to tay hap. Th  o non-jdmnta and diain di ain tatmnt i th on yo’ yo’ jt ad can p conict at a hathy .

ac #4: b yu ow b Chm  Chm  Th oth action tp o ainin poiti iibiity i to b yo own bt champion. That man tandin p o yo and what matt to yo and not w not  waitin o oth to pa p in yo bha. Thi action di di  om o ommin aianc in pit o common oa o nitin th hp o oth to t a pojct don. en w whn hn yo ha ai, y yo o nd to tand p o yo  whn th i i abot you  abot  you . Conid thi xamp:

Haod i pt that hi mana otiny ain th dpatmnt’ mot inttin and impotant pojct to a patica co-wo intad o to him. That co-wo co-wo ha  xpinc and tim with th company than Haod. rath than conont hi bo, how, Haod piaty ha hi tation with hi cot ind in th dpatmnt. sinc w thin main piat in oanization, th mana ntay ha abot Haod’ compaint. “I thi matt o mch to Haod,” h won © American Management Management Association. All rights reserved. http://www.amanet.org/ 

 

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AsserTINg YOurs Ourself elf AT WOrk

d, “why han’t h pon to m abot it?” Th mana bin to thin o  Haod a wa, acin in conidnc, conid nc, n n nttwothy—hady tait that wi inpi h to i i him impo impotant tant How cod Haod haanhandd thipojct. matt in a mo ati mann? Haod cod ha qtd a mtin with th mana, din which h wod dcib hi concn. H cod ha pointd ot th ta h had bn pomin and thi t. H cod ha dcibd th a that hi i and xpinc contibt to th dpatmnt and company. company. eqay impotant, h cod ha mphaizd hi intt in tain on nw chan and at ponibiity. Iday, Haod wod ha ndd by ain, “I’m inttd in mo chanin ainmnt. What do I ha to do to t thm?” That ind o  an ta wod pt th ba in th mana’ cot. sh wod ha to ith i him th n i nxt xt pm ainmnt o ha a y ood aon o not doin o. In any ca, h wod y thin o Haod dinty: a an ati ati pon with io intt and qimnt whom h hod ta mo ioy. ioy. Not that Haod didn’t mntion th co-wo who wa ttin a o  th ood ainmnt. Intad, h tad abot hi own tnth and a. An ai pon, in contat, wod iy o him o h, compa hi o h i and a to th oth mpoy, mpoy, and cat npodcti tnion btwn him o h and th bo. Th’ a thin in btwn an appopiat and inappopiat inapp opiat way o bin yo o own wn bt champion. B ca not to co it.

t: o b F Th Midd Midd enih tm “an” i otn dind a bin othiht o thiht and opn in xpin on’ in o thoht. “Candid” i on o it ynonym. Thoh w han’t d th tm nti nti  now now,, ann ann  i a qa qaity ity w ind in ati ati pop. Whn ati pop thin that omon’

w ind in ati ati pop. Whn ati pop thin that omon  bin nai (ay (ay,, in iin ot diab dia b ainmnt), thy t that pon. Whn an ati pio notic omon doin oppy wo, h won’t minc wod wod in cain cain attntion to th pobm: “Bi, thi thi  wo in’t p to o tandad. What’ th pobm?” Many pop danc aond th tth whn conontin oth on diict i—aaid to ond o a o natin conict. Ati pop pa any and opny abot a bot what th thy y  a a pobm. Thy Th y ay it a ot in th opn wh it can b anayzd an ayzd and di dicd cd objctiy. In thi way, thy contibt to oin th pobm. I yo want to b ati, tat bin opn and an with pop in th wopac.

ac #5: Hd Cmm wh gc  gc  What do yo do whn omon pay yo yo a compimnt? Do yo bh it aid, act mbaad and ay, “It’ nothin. Jami did mot o th wo.” o, “It wan’t a bi da.”? O wo, “W, I didn’t and th Aood accont. so, hod bac on th conatation.” Th ith action tp o ainin poiti iibiity i to hand compimnt with ac.  ac. Ati pop now how to do thi; pai and ai ai AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

AsserTIveNess OPPOr PPOrTuNITIes TuNITIes AT WOrk  

93

pop otn don’t. A pai pon may  ndin (which o bac to th -tm i) o  that to accpt a ccpt pai how a ac o hmiity hmiity.. O om oth conictd con ictd in t in th way, ay, ch a not andin th Aood accont. Th ai ai pon  a compimnt a a om o -adancmnt, to th annoyanc o co-wo. co-wo. What’ th ati What’ a ti way way to po pond nd to a co compimnt? mpimnt? It’ ay y imi mp, yo oo th oth pon in th y, mi, and ay, “Than yo.” O mo i yo wih, ch a, “Than yo. I appciat yo tin m,” o “Than yo. It man a ot to m,” o “Than yo. It wa a chanin chan in po pojct jct and I’m pod o what w accompihd.” Whn in dobt, a imp “Than yo” wi do. Ai, Ai , non-ati non-ati pop, on th oth hand, nd to mmb th “ac” pat o compimnt accptanc. Thy Thy mt aoid accptin mo cdit than thy’ d, pttin anyon down, o citicizin th pon payin th compimnt. compi mnt. fo xamp: xamp: “Than “Than.. I it i t wn’t o m, w wodn’t wodn’t ha ottn thi thin o th ond,” o “Than. It wa i pin tth to t th tam nad, bt I manad to p it o,” o “Than. I thoht yo’d n notic.” Th a th typ o pon that wi bin yo down in

th tm o oth.

ac #6: l  Cuc Ccm   sf-imm ou

Th oth id o a compimnt i contcti citicim—with th mphai on constructive . Yo aady now how to i contcti dbac and how to d bac yo in to oth oth  thoh objcti objcti, , poiti ana. Yo Yo hod now b ab to coniz contcti dbac whn yo’ on th ciin nd. Contcti citicim t yo now how yo miht impo yo attitd, bhaio, bhaio, pomanc, and o on. Th oa h i to bid yo p, not ta yo down. Dtcti Dtcti citicim, in contat, may ino ino a pona p ona attac (a “yo” tatmnt) o a manipation to ma yo  ity o t yo to do omthin aaint yo wi. It’ impotant to ndtand th dinc btwn contcti and dtcti citicim and to b opn to accptin th om withot bcomin dni. Yo may  ncomotab (at a it’ abot yo) and yo may xpinc a ica action, bt it oin into dnia o into a dni mod. Conid th oowin xamp: Th dpa dpatmnt tmnt mana wa wad d into h bodinat’ cbic and doppd a pot on hi h i d. “I’ cicd i i o in thi pot,” h ban. “eo i th thow o o accontin and dama th dpatmnt’ ptation. eo-pooin i a matt o oc and tim manamnt. so nxt tim, tat yo pot po t ai ai ,, oay? That way yo’ ha tim to dob-chc yo nmb and n thm by sio bo yo bmp th pot p to m.” Th bodinat wa initiay initi ay tn by hi hi mana’ wod. H’d wod a biin chd o o  th pat w  w w. T Th h  had hit hi t th dpatmnt

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had and h had tan p th ac. sti, h nw that mntionin thi wod ond i main xc. xc. H pidd him on th qaity o hi wo, yt yt h had to admit that h hadn’t i in n th po pott th attntion it dd. so, h ad with hi hi  mana’ “oc and tim mana manamnt” mnt” pciption. “Y, “Y, I cod mana my tim btt,” h admittd to him. him . Th ida o datin mo ddny occd to him. “I’ itd ttin oth with mo wo and ponibiity. Now i th tim to chan.” cha n.” Withot th mana’ mana’ contcti cont cti  citicim, thi bodinat miht not ha bn ady to ma a chan—to impo. A an ati pon, yo

mt an to accpt acc pt (da w ay “wcom”) “wcom”) contcti citicim and  it to impo pomanc.

ac #7: C  D a p Many cc and podcti po dcti pop oow a imp maxim: Plan your work, then work your plan. Th nth action tp i to cat a daiy atin pan. entay, yo hod b pontanoy ati, bt at thi ta a daiy pan wi hp yo idntiy atin oppotniti at wo and in oth aa on yo i. A yo pactic y yo o i on a a bai (s exhibit 5-1), thy wi ow and bcom hathy habit. Bin with a, comotab itation in which to pactic a ati ti bhaio and chan yo comot  incmntay. Pan ot yo atin ti n oppotniti th niht bo and do thi a on a yo ind thi xci x ci . Y Yo o wi pobaby poba by bacid om tim to tim. B wiin to oi yo whn yo do. A in ditin, “ain o th waon” wi not man ai if  yo yo t bac on th poam th nxt day. Ao now that pop pop  may not pond to yo nw atin in wa way y yo’d xpct—o i. I yo’ bn pai in yo ationhip, om pop may i th “od” yo btt. Thy may t yo o, n i that ht. At a, yo w th aab pon who pt qit, accommodatd, and bit yo ton. That That bhaio mad it ai o them  them to to tand ot. rit th tmptation to t to yo od bhaio. I yo’ yo’  bn ai ai  in th pat, pop may b cond abot yo nw bhaio. Thy may contin to wa iny aond yo, waitin o an xpctd otbt. otbt. It wi ta tim to ain ain th tt o oth, o b patint.

Exercise 5-2 Your Daily Dai ly Assertiveness Asser tiveness Plan Worksheet Worksheet 1. Mak Make e sev several eral cop copies ies of the wo workshee rksheett below below,, so that y you ou can fill it out on a dai daily ly basis. basis. 2. Identify y your our daily goals for each category, category, when applicab applicable. le. Do this the night bef before ore you go to work. 3. At the end of the da day y, e evaluate valuate y your our results. Remember tha thatt increasing your your assertiveness skills will take time. Be patient.

Exercise 5-2 continues on next page. AMACOM Self Study Program http://www.amaselfstudy.org/ 

 

 

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95

Exercise 5-2 continued from previous page.

Day

Daily Goal

Results  

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

If you are not sure what to identify as a daily goal, consider the following examples: examples: Day

Daily Goal

Results  

Monday

Ask agenda. Kiyoko for a meeting 

Got it. That was easy! 

Tuesday

Let Gary know that I’m   mifffed ab  mi about his his comme comment  nt   that  that I nev neveer stay late. late.

Gary’s out of town. Try again next week.

Wednesday

Prepare to present my  ideaas at the  ide the week weekly ly sa sale les  s   meetinng.  meeti

Went well. Got noticed. Preparation made the   difffere  di ference. nce.

Thursday

 many  man Speak y typ typos. with os.Helen about too  come Had adown goodonchat. her Didn’ but she  t   knew I mean meantt busi busine nesss. Friday

Tell Fred to stop using my Chickened out! Will try office as a hangout. again next week.

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xhibit 5-1 Seven Action Steps toward Positive Visibility • • • • • • •

 

Speak up and share yo your ur views. Disagree ag agreeably reeably.. Participate act actively ively in meetings. Be your o own wn best cha champion mpion.. Handle compliments with gr grace. ace. Use constructive criticism as an opportunity ffor or self-improv self-improvement. ement. Create a daily assertiveness plan—and follow it!

ake respo esponsib nsibilit ility y For oUr t perF erForMa orManCe nCe at Work y

ey on o  can point to tho whom w admi a ton and ati pop. O th indiida yo now, which o thi tait tand ot in yo mind? fain? Honty? Dciin? fann? Phap yo’ noticd omthin  th pop ha in common: Thy ta ponibiity o thi action and wopac pomanc, both ood and bad. Thy don’t bam oth o ma xc xc o thi ap and ho hotcomin. tcomin. Thy Thy na in taiht ta, not pin. Thy don’t ty to ta cdit o th ood wo o  oth. Pop admi thm o thi ati bhaio, n whn thy dia thi ppcti. Pidnt Hay Tman, o xamp, pctwith om both hi ppot and dtacto o hi tatmnt thatand “Th bc top h.” Tain ponibiity o yo own pomanc i an ntia tp towad bcomin mo ati ati. . Any tim yo  th  to bam oth oth o to ma xc xc o yo ai and hotcomin, ma a concio choic to ta ponibiity what yo’ yo’ don o aid to do. Th pain o doin thi i ma compad compa d to th to that adin ponibi ponibiity ity wi ta on yo tm, intity, ptation, and ca. Bca yon ma mita and occaionay a hot o oa, mot pop wi oi oi yo hotcomin— if   if  yo yo acnowd and ta ponibiity o thm. What thy won’t won’t

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