We often waste time at meetings that seem to be going nowhere simply because we cannot come to a consensus about certain important decisions. When such situations arise, assertiveness will not only allow us to all go home earlier for a much-needed rest, it will increase efficiency and make discussion much more productive in the long run.

What we have to first assess is the reason for indecision. It may happen to be that the probable choices are all equally good, or even equally bad. People are not able to decide because they are teetering among choices, unable to come up with better ideas but unwilling to accept any existing one.

In such cases, being assertive and insisting on a particular stand will likely resolve the problem and instantly gain you the position of the director on the follow-up actions at the same time.

Another situation. You are totally convinced that your suggestion is much better than another, but everyone is going for the other one. You can tell that some of them are not all that sure your idea is bad, but they are going with that decision simply because everyone else is.

Under such circumstances, it's all or nothing for you. Once you falter, you are immediately taken as "wrong" since you do not seem thoroughly sure that your idea is better yourself. Bring out the assertiveness in you now, and you will come to discover that people who agree with you do exist. Many of them are probably waiting for you to give that little push to get everything rolling.

The benefits of assertiveness are endless. Nevertheless, every attribute has its down side. Being too assertive may cause you to become blind to looking at matters from another angle, thus you become labelled as being "stubborn". It is important that you acknowledge other viewpoints but insist on your own being the best or the way out of a current dilemma. Use assertiveness sparingly, and watch it work its miracles in the long run.

Learn more about this author, Jarinia Heuze.
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