subject: Some Effective Ways To Assert Yourself [print this page] When you were young, you were taught to be able to determine when to say "yes" or "no". In any given instance, you are expected to know yourself enough, to know when to say "yes" and "no" without putting yourself at any risk. All throughout life, you will face situations wherein you will need to go against something that is being forced on you and you are expected to have the power to do it. You need to know what is right and know exactly when to stop yourself from making a mistake. Many people encounter failures because they were not able to assert themselves in a given situation. As if a bigger force has come to overpower them, they cower and falter.
Being in business is a challenge; and it involves having to assert yourself all the time. You do not know how many opportunities you can miss by being unable to find the right confidence, therefore it is important for you to find a way to be assertive.
Assert Yourself through Body Language : Body language is a great tool. You can be saying one thing but have your body saying something else entirely; therefore, signify your thoughts with the appropriate actions. Equip your declarations with strong body language, to be able to show exactly what you mean. Look the person you are talking to in the eye, and use hand gestures to exaggerate certain points. If you are having some problem talking to people, you can practice by talking in front of the mirror. That way you can see how you look.
Say What You Feel : Do not be afraid to be yourself. The very first mistake you will ever make is to cheat yourself by holding off what you really feel and denying who you really are. You are entitled to your own opinions and you should not be afraid to express what you feel, even if other people may go against it.
Learn How to Say "No" : This two-letter word can be very difficult to say but it is very important for you to know when to say it. Some people are afraid to say "no" because they are afraid of having to disappoint other people. They are too concerned about what people will say about them that they just give in. The trouble with this is that sometimes by saying "yes" to everyone you put yourself in jeopardy. Do not try to please everyone. Know what you want and stick to it- even if you have to say "no" to everyone and hurt their feelings.
Reiterate What You Mean : Some people refuse to accept what you are saying especially if you have not been exactly as assertive in the past. Do not worry about it. As long as you have everything in order now, there no reason that you should be complacent about everything. If you are expressing something and the person you are speaking to is not hearing any of it, say it again. If he refuses to listen still, be strong and say it again. That person will eventually realize how truly serious you are. Do not be afraid to fight for what you believe in. Do not give up.
Think About Yourself : A lot of people forget themselves just so they could please other people. You should find a way to be pleased with yourself and not be intimidated by other people all the time. Find ways to boost your confidence and learn to love yourself more.
With whatever endeavor your plan to take, you need to always be assertive. Do not let other people step on you and intimidate you away from the things you want and believe in.