Assertiveness

Talk about career advancement! Yes, it’s well known that men get more than their share of money and power in the American workplace.
But it doesn’t have to be that way . . . especially if you’re making a career advancement and are committed to search for a new job.
And here’s the most powerful secret to your career advancement: learning to speak assertively to your next employer. This simple change in your approach can position you for career growth that can challenge the glass ceiling.
Just take a look at the career advancement statistics for women. They’ll help motivate you to master assertiveness.
1. Women make up about half the American work force.
2. Women hold about half the managerial positions.
3. Women earn just 73 percent of what men earn in the same jobs.
4. Women hold only 5 percent of the country’s top-paying jobs.
5. Just eight of the Fortune 500 companies have women CEOs.
OK. The secret to changing this situation is learning to communicate more effectively. And that means more assertiveness.
Molly Dickinson Shepard recently wrote a book called “Stop Whining and Start Winning.” She contends that women, who are said to come from Venus, need to learn the language of their Mars-based male counterparts.
“They must get in the game,” she advises. “Otherwise they won’t rise any further–and the statistics won’t change. If women communicate more effectively, they will be heard.
“If a woman is not heard, she’s going to be seen as passive and be marginalized,” Shepard explains. It’s critical that women feel recognized and valued.”
Shepard goes on to point out that men really believe it when they say, “It’s just business, it’s not personal.” They rip into each other during meetings and then go out for beers together. It’s to women’s advantage to be just as thick-skinned,” Shepard concludes.
Now, regarding assertiveness . . . many people confuse it with aggressiveness. Assertiveness is a mindset that allows you stand up for what’s right for you. But in a way that isn’t offensive. Rather, it’s a way of communicating that’s persuasive based on your own firm convictions.
To put it another way, it’s a certain boldness that puts your ideas and opinions forward in a way that the people you’re addressing n grow from the exposure to your ideas. This is especially true if you are in the interview situation where your career advancement hangs in the balance.
If you remember that an employer is looking for someone he/she feels would make a good member of their team. Frankly, they could care less about what you used to do for someone as expressed in your work history. Here’s a unique opportunity to come forward with inventive ways you can make a contribution to the organization going forward. Now, that’s true assertiveness!

Knowing how to be assertive in the workplace is a great advantage for you. After all, the big bosses won’t care about your attendance record or how well you make coffee. They’re more interested in, and are more likely to remember, employees who are determined and carry out their own ideas. It doesn’t matter whether you’re at work or at a doughnut shop. Learning how to be assertive is the first step to achieving your bigger goals and ambitions. It’s your ticket to success. However, there are a few key points you must remember and practice before you set out to take that step. Being Assertive Is Not Being Aggressive.Many people make the mistake of thinking these two concepts are the same. You know better than that. Being aggressive can backfire on you big time. Your co-workers, and even your employers, might feel intimidated or turned off by your aggressiveness. You don’t want to scare them away, do you? Be subtle. If you have an idea, pitch it in a “soft” way. But don’t overwhelm the whole office with it. Assertiveness Rests on Self-Confidence.You won’t ever get past the first step if you don’t even have self-confidence. Learning how to be assertive includes improving all your other skills. Try talking to yourself in front of the mirror. If you can’t even do that, then how do you expect to convince your boss of your credibility? You might even have to work on your stance and observe your body language. Practicing how to be assertive in the workplace gives you many benefits that extend beyond your 9-5 timetable. You can also use the skills you have honed when trying to socialize with other people. Just remember that moderation is key, and that you are capable of becoming a self-confident and assertive person.