Assertive Communication: 10 Tips for Expressing Yourself Assertively

By: Barbara Small, M.A.

1. Think before you speak. The first step is to be clear within yourself as to what you want to say.

2. Communicate your needs without excuses or disclaimers at the beginning, such as “well, this may not really be important” or “I may be making a big deal out of nothing”.

3. Speak clearly and concisely. Remember “less is more”. When we keep on talking we often start to make excuses, contradict ourselves and give others lots of ammunition for arguing us out of our opinion if they want.

4. Say what you mean. Avoid hinting and “beating around the bush”. Others cannot read your mind. You need to ask for what you want. If you have a sore back and want a back rub, ask for it. Simply complaining about having a sore back may not achieve your goal of getting a back rub.

5. Speak in a firm and calm voice.

6. Describe how you see the current situation and how you would like it to be different.

7. Express your feelings without judgment or justification. Your feelings are always valid whether others agree with them or not. They simply need to be expressed in an appropriate and respectful manner.

8. Own your opinion, feelings and wants by using “I” statements. Avoid using “you” and “we”. Other may feel like you are talking for them or accusing them, such as “You made me angry”.

9. Maintain direct eye contact. This does not mean staring. It is okay to glance away. When you look at people as you are talking with them, they know you are confident about what you are saying and that it is important.

10. When you are first assertive it can be challenging to come up with how to say something assertively The wording is unfamiliar. Below are some statements that you might use. This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but simply some options to help start you off.

• I don’t want to...


• I feel uncomfortable about...


• I have an issue I want to talk to you about.


• I don’t appreciate that...


• I see it differently.


• I have a problem with that.


• It is important to me.


• In my opinion...


• No, thank you.


• Yes, I do mind.


• I think we should discuss this.


• When are you available to talk about this?

Reprinted from: Communication Skills Articles.

Barbara Small, M.A. is a professional speaker, coach and author whose keynote sessions, workshops and books center around the practical skills of communication, assertiveness and positive self-talk. She has written three books, “If I Could Just Get Out of My Own Head: A No-Nonsense Guide to Communicating Effectively”, “What About Me, What Do I Want? Becoming Assertive" and "Blah, blah, blah... Changing Your Negative Self-talk". Visit www.barbsmallcoaching.com for more details.

Please Rate this Article

5 out of 54 out of 53 out of 52 out of 51 out of 5 

Not yet Rated

Additional Articles From - Home | Relationships | Assertive