Assertiveness Techniques! Learn and practise these techniques to stop others from manipuilating you!

cleanclover Mar 24, 2008 Other
YOU have to change your non - assertive behaviour to stop others from manipulating you by learning and practising
  • Just knowing about assertiveness is not going to help you.
  • People are NOT going to change their manipulative behaviour just because you tell them - "I am assertive now."
  • YOU have to change your non - assertive behaviour to stop others from manipulating you by learning and practising :

 

1) Asserting Negatively :

  • Do not feel guilty, defensive, upset or threatened about making a mistake.
  • Accept your mistake promptly : "You're right, I have made a mistake. I am sorry. I'll try not to do it again. I am prepared to rectify it."
  • Paradoxically, those who cannot accept criticism easily can also not take a compliment graciously and without feeling anxious and awkward.

 

2) Broken Record:

Persistence is the foremost thing to learn in being assertive:

  • Calmly keep saying the same sentence again and again. e.g. "No, I cannot do it." Or "I want to do it."
  • Do not raise the voice and remain without anger or irritation.
  • Do not offer any explaination, excuse, justification or reasoning for your "broken record" statement.
  • It's your persistent broken record vs. his "NO" or his "demands."
  • The message is - "I am not going to be put off - I can do this all day - no matter what things you say."
  • However, set limits to your assertive behaviour with a judge, policeman or robber.
  • The opponent's behaviour after the broken record can be -

@ He gives in, or

@ He is more assertive than you, or

@ He offers workable compromise.

 

3) Compromise ( Workable)

  • E.g. "I'll not refund the money. But I'll give you another piece."
  • Accept or offer workable compromise, if the last goal is not compromising your self respect.
  • If self-respect is being hurt, then there must be No Compromise. (Very, very important)

 

4) Disclosure & Free Information :

  • Receive simple clues by a person in a social situation as a free - information.
  • Pick up free information and build up the conversation on it by offering voluntary self-Disclosure.E.g "Hello, I am Johny. I am from Austin. I am from IBM." (Free - information)

"Oh! IBM! My friend is working in quality circle." (Self-Disclosure)

  • Gradually start accepting and disclosing your own negative aspects.
  • This is one of the most potent methods to accept yourself as you are and to initiate and enjoy a social conversation.

 

5) Eye - to - Eye Contact :

  • A confident body language is most important for any assertive talk.
  • Eye - to - Eye contact is the first requirement of a confident body langauge.
  • People will not take you seriously if there is an assertive talk along with a nervous body language.

 

6) Fogging :

  • Learn to become like a fog:
  • Appears solid, no visibility.
  • However, things can go through.
  • No hard surfaces for any rock to bounce back from.
  • Not to deny any criticism.
  • Not to get defensive.
  • Not to counter - attack.
  • Do not try to read motives behind other's critical statements. Just follow the statement on their face value and fog it. E.g. "I see you dressed again shabbily."

"That's right, I am dressed in my usual way."

 

7) Go further : and ask for detailed critical statements :

E.g. "What's more wrong about what you are criticizing ?"

  • "What else is bad about...?"
  • This shows you are not put off by criticism and you genuinely want to improve.

 

The Bill of Assertive Human Rights!

 

  • You have the right to say "NO" without feeling guilty.
  • You have the right to have your self-respect even at the cost of hurting someone else.
  • You have the right to make your own independent decisions as long as you are prepared to face their consequences.
  • You have the right to make mistakes and be responsible for them.
  • You have the right to ask a favour or request.
  • You have the right to deny a request or favour.
  • You have the right to change your mind.
  • You have the right to not to answer any question.
  • You have the right to offer no excuses, justification or apologies.
  • You have the right to be only judge of your own behaviour.

 

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pheonix6209 on Apr 29, 2008
 
very informative
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