10 Best Assertive Communication Worksheets and Techniques

You can start with small things or activities if you’re having difficulty finding your assertive voice. For instance, you hear a rattling sound after servicing your car but are afraid to question your mechanic’s work. You should say something about the sound. Also, start to practice through daily activities by putting yourself first.

4. Practice Your Assertive Skills

Practising your speech beforehand is one of the best ways to improve your assertiveness. For instance, if you are going to ask your boss for a raise, try role-playing with a partner or friend. This way, you will be able to sketch out the possible scenarios, and you won’t be caught off guard. 

Also, you will not lose momentum when you’re at the moment in front of your boss. You can also write down what you want to say and rehearse it, so you’re confident about making your actual pitch.

5. Fogging

Fogging is a valuable strategy if people act in an intrusive or aggressive manner. In this strategy, you accept the criticism, or a part of the criticism, even if it’s not true, without trying to give a fake reason. Using this technique, you can accept criticism from other people positively. 

Also, you will be able to improve yourself without any worries and defences. For example, if you are late and your boss is mad and asks you, “why are you late today?” Well, in this situation, you could say, “Yes, I am late, and I am really sorry that I let you down”.

6. Positive Enquiry

Sometimes people struggle with responding to praise and compliments. For example, when someone compliments them for their work, they feel inadequate, or the positive feedback is not justified. Also, they don’t know how to respond to praise and compliments. If you feel the same when someone compliments you, then you should use a positive enquiry technique. 

Positive enquiry is a simple technique and using this technique, you can handle positive comments. However, it is also essential that you give positive feedback to others when appropriate and react appropriately to the positive feedback. For example, you prepare a meal for someone, and they compliment you by saying: “You made an excellent meal, it was delicious!” In return, you could reply, “Thanks, I am glad to hear that you like it.” 

7. Negative Enquiry

To put it simply, a negative enquiry is the opposite of a positive enquiry. You can use this technique when you respond to negative criticism or comments. In this technique, you check the feedback and evaluate the statement. If they are informative enough, then accept them. If you find the words are manipulative, then you don’t have to give a reply. If it’s not manipulative, clarify your thoughts and make the negative criticism clear to help yourself.

8. I-Statements

When communicating with others, don’t leave room for misinterpretation. Using assertiveness is effective in communication because it is straight to the point. For example, tell how you feel about other things or people by using “I” as in “I think” or “I feel”. By doing this, you are showing that you are confident and honest. 

9. Remember Your Body Language 

Your words are just only one part of the communication process. Your tone of voice, body language, and facial expressions contribute a lot to your message. Although, you should try to keep a neutral facial expression when communicating with others. 

If you need to improve your body language, you could practice with your friends, colleagues or in front of a mirror. Standing up tall and making eye contact while communicating are the two critical attributes of a confident person.

10. Understand Other’s Point of View

A crucial part of assertiveness is your ability to say to others while keeping other people’s feelings in mind. People with assertiveness skills show empathy, respect towards other people’s wishes and ideas. Also, they create a collaborative and win-win environment where both sides get what they want. Therefore, you will be more effective in negotiating than people with aggressive communication skills.