How To Be Assertive In The Workplace

How To Be Assertive In The Workplace

Are you assertive in the workplace? Assertiveness is one of the many qualities that makes a good leader. Without this trait, leadership can be a challenge.

So, what if you’re not a naturally assertive person but want to move up the ladder? Or, what if you’re not confident enough to assert yourself in the workplace? Here are some tips from some of our approved career experts:

Focus On Leading

Woman tries to be more assertive as she leads her team at work

“The important thing to do is to stand up for yourself in a manner that doesn’t trample on other people,” says Bud Bilanich, author of Climbing The Corporate Ladder. “This is a good working definition of being assertive.” Bilanich stresses that if you’re in a leadership position, you have the right and, more importantly, the responsibility to direct the actions of others. “Don’t focus on being friends with the people you lead,” he advises. “Focus on leading them.”

So, how do you do this? Set goals with them and review their performance frequently. Provide them with positive, encouraging feedback when they do well, and redirect their behavior when they get off track.

Be Proactive

Woman tries to be more assertive at work

According to Dorothy Tannahill-Moran of NextChapterNewLife.com, assertiveness is a crucial trait in a leader. But what if you’re not naturally assertive? “You need to look at where you aren’t asserting your opinion and direction, and think through those situations in advance,” says Tannahill-Moran. She suggests creating a “script” for yourself in advance. This approach allows you to work on your leadership skills in a proactive way.

Look for one opportunity each day to assert your opinions and direction—practice makes perfect! “Keep in mind that you are building a skill, which means it won’t feel comfortable or fluid at first,” she says. “But the more you do it, the better you will be.”

Map Out A Plan Of Action

Man tries to be more assertive as he leads his team at work

“Leadership is about directing people and you need to be clear about the expectations of the organization,” says career coach Roshni P. Kumar. Kumar suggests creating a plan of action. For example, if you need to reach your office, the first thing you need to know is its location. Then, you determine the most effective route and guide others (management). “Once you are clear about your destination,” she says, “then you can communicate effectively to your team—and that, my friend, is ‘assertiveness.'”

Being assertive in the workplace takes practice, but once you hone this skill, you’ll be better equipped to succeed as a leader.

If you’re struggling to move up in your career or find the right career for you, we can help. We know how difficult it can be to stand out at work and overcome office politics. We know how it feels to be trapped in a career that isn’t making you happy. That’s why we’d love it if you joined our FREE community where professionals like you are learning how to become empowered in their careers so they can finally find career satisfaction.

Sign up for our FREE community and become a Workplace Renegade today!

This article was originally published at an earlier date.

#1 Rookie Mistake You Don’t Want To Make In Your Messaging

#1 Rookie Mistake You Don’t Want To Make In Your Messaging

Early in my career, I worked for a large consumer packaged goods company that was not known for innovation. To turn this around, I was a part of an innovation team that led the development of new platforms that would generate $200 million in sales.

One of the first initiatives we developed was a meal solutions platform that led to a complete meal in a box new product, which at the time was revolutionary; 5 minutes of prep, 25 minutes of oven cooking, and you were the hero, providing your family with a home-cooked meal. Research testing was through the roof. Consumers loved the many benefits of the product: convenience, a complete meal including bread, vegetables, and meat, easy preparation, and providing your family a home-cooked dinner. We were eager to launch this amazing new product into a number of test markets, rolling out an aggressive marketing campaign. Unfortunately, we broke the “too many messages rule,” requiring consumers to take in too much information when making their purchasing decisions in a matter of seconds.

From my learnings, here are a few strategies to ensure your brand messaging hits the mark with your audience.

Listen To The Article

Get To The Core Of It

Understanding your unique selling proposition (USP) can make your brand stand head and shoulders above the crowd. A USP makes a strong first impression with your customers, making it easy for them to purchase your brand over your competitors. Your USP is all about answering, “Why should I choose you?” Keep in mind that your USP is the core personality of your brand. It is the reason why people will spend their hard-earned money on your brand. Check out my article on How To Stand Out From The Crowd With A USP.

Keep It Simple Stupid

​It all starts with the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) principle coined by the Navy back in the 60s. With any marketing message, your goal is to educate, entertain, and engage consumers. Consumers are busy, so much so that they spend less than 20 seconds making a purchase decision. If your message is complex, overly communicated, or even inconsistently communicated, you can guarantee it will be ignored. No matter how complex or technical your messaging is, there is incredible value in the simplicity of your message.

Kantar Millward Brown, a research agency, showed that the more messages you try to communicate in an ad, the lower the likelihood of communicating any single message. Too many messages can dilute communication as our brains can only really think about 3-4 things at once. The more messages an ad attempts to communicate, the lower the likelihood any single message will be communicated strongly. Source

Ruthlessly Cut

When you start crafting your message, ask yourself this: “What is the essence of what I want to say?” Ruthlessly cut copy that is long-winded, repetitive, hard to understand, highly detailed, and uses filler words. Here is an example of ruthlessly cutting:

Bad Copy Example:

“It is my opinion that we should support the war.”

Okay Copy Example:

“I believe we should support the war.”

Better Copy Example:

“We should support the war.”

Best Copy Example:

“Support the war.”

Getting To The Heart

People buy emotionally, even if they don’t realize it, and then justify their decision rationally. In fact, 50% of brand experiences are based on emotions. Emotions influence a decision and urge people to act. That’s why it’s an effective marketing technique. Here are three reasons why getting to the heart of your consumers is so effective:

For steps on how to create a strong emotional connection with your brand, check out my article.

In the end, we adjusted our messaging for our new product. Our new product was a success selling over $125 million across four test markets, driving share for the category up 10%, and was the best new product per IRI allowing us to roll out nationally, earlier than expected. Remember: get to the core of your messaging, use the keep it simple stupid (KISS) principle, ruthlessly cut copy, and get to the heart of consumers by emotionally connecting with them. Start building your brand leadership today. You’ve got this!

5 Things Successful Job Seekers Do Before Applying For A Job

5 Things Successful Job Seekers Do Before Applying For A Job

There are very few things that a job seeker can control in the job search, but choosing to apply for a job is one of them.

The positions you choose to apply for should be calculated and focused. Applying for every job on a company’s career site gets you a label: “serial applier.” You do not want to be a serial applicant. It is a quick way to enter the deepest, darkest, blackest location of the application black hole.

You really want to be discerning about the roles you apply for. To do that, here are a few tips and tricks to try to make sure you are really applying for the jobs that can get you closer to career success.

1. Know What You Want

Before any big life change (and changing jobs is a big life change), it’s key to know what you want. Because you cannot find what you want unless you know what you want. This is going to include a deep understanding of your professional goals and personal needs. You should try to document these things and keep them close by. Look at them before you apply for a job and re-read the job description to be sure there are no red flags in the marketing-speak of the position listing. Do not apply for a job that will not help you meet your professional goals nor force you to sacrifice your personal needs.

2. Get Feedback On Your Accomplishments

Man talks to a coworker

When I am applying to jobs, I like to write really tailored disruptive cover letters that tell a few stories that are aligned with the job description and explain why I feel connected to the company. These stories also highlight my strengths and accomplishments.

The best stories come from people I’ve worked with. I like to gather feedback from people who I reported to as well as people who reported to me. I like to talk with teammates to see what they thought about our work together and I ask them to share with me what I did well and where I could have improved. And now, I have already answered the “strengths and weaknesses” questions in the interview because I have stories from others to back up what I am saying. You can also use this feedback to see where you may or may not shine against the job description.

3. Know What You Can Deliver

Woman applies for a job

You know what you want to achieve in your career and what other people think you rock at. Now, you should figure out what you can really deliver to a new company. I always focus on accomplishments and achievements. They’re measurable and quick and easy to communicate.

To demonstrate your value to employers in the hiring process, quantify your work experience on your resume. This way, they’ll clearly see how you could make or save them money (and you’ll successfully justify the cost of hiring you to do the job). And when you know your value and what you can deliver, and the stories that back them up, it makes the application and interview process a much more focused and engaging experience because people love stories! At the end of the day, it’s all about storytelling.

4. Network With Companies That Fit

Man applies for a job

You should be focusing your job search on specific companies that align with your values. You should not be looking at companies that are not family-friendly if you are a mom re-entering the workforce. Research companies to create a list of employers who align with your values, needs, and passions. This is called your interview bucket list. Study up on them and then start networking with them on social media. Find people you may know who work at these companies and then set some time to chat with them or meet for coffee. Finding a job that’s right for you starts before submitting your application. It starts with conducting a targeted job search so you can apply to companies that are really aligned with what you need and can deliver.

5. Get Your Stories Together

Woman applies for jobs

There are countless ways to stand out to recruiters and it doesn’t need to be gimmicky. You can reach out directly to recruiters to learn more about the company and the job. You can use your connections to become a referral because those are a top source for employers. You should consider visual ways to stand out. Tools I’ve referenced in the past were: Word Clouds, SlideShare, LinkedIn, CredHive, Prezi, Adobe Voice, and Haiku Deck. You can use these tools to share your story in a more visual and compelling way.

What do you think? What do you do before you apply for a job? If you’re not doing all five of these things in your job search, it’s a good time to start! You can and will find your next job. And if you need more job search tips and advice, we’ll be here to help.

If you’re feeling trapped in your career, you’re not alone. We get it. We know what you’re going through. Feeling frustrated, lost, or unappreciated at work is not how it’s supposed to be. The good news is that you can find career satisfaction sooner than you think.

We’d love it if you joined our FREE community. It’s a private, online platform where workers, just like you, are coming together to learn and grow into powerful Workplace Renegades. We like to see ourselves as the leader of the Workplace Revolution. And we want YOU to be a part of it.

It’s time to find work that makes you feel happy, satisfied, and fulfilled. Join our FREE community today to finally become an empowered business-of-one!

5 Helpful Time Management Tips for Real Estate Agents

5 Helpful Time Management Tips for Real Estate Agents

As a real estate agent, you might feel compelled to be putting in more hours at work, especially if everyone around you is working 60 hours a week. You might even think it will benefit you and your team. The problem with this mindset is that those who work more don’t necessarily close as many […]

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How To Politely Decline A Job Interview (Plus Examples)

How To Politely Decline A Job Interview (Plus Examples)

Learning how to decline a job interview is something that everyone needs to do eventually. If you work long enough, there’s a good chance you’ll be put in this situation! Table of contents Reasons to Turn Down a Job Interview How to Politely Decline an Interview Sample Emails for Declining a Job Interview Fortunately, it […]

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