Authentic Assertiveness – Convey Your Value in the Workplace

Authentic Assertiveness -- Comfortably Convey Your Value in the Workplace

It's hard sometimes for modest people who don't have a "show pony" personality to let others know the value of their work without feeling like it's all about them. Often times a little assertiveness training can make all the difference.

Start to discover here why and how you can easily and honestly talk about how important your role at work is. You'll want to keep these ideas and pass them to others you care about!

Do any of these describe you?

* You believe that your work is important, but you'd be uncomfortable bragging or asserting yourself about its value * You would not like to be perceived as prideful if you were to talk about your accomplishments * You would like to be appreciated for all you do, but you're just not sure how to go about it

If you can relate to these ideas, you are not alone. Thousands of hard working professionals have sat in my classes, and listened to my CDs on "Powerful Communication Skills for Women", "Your #1 Success Factor", and "Gracious Assertiveness", and hundreds more have been personally trained by me and they feel exactly the same way.

So many people with so much to offer simply don't know how to communicate assertively to let people know how their work makes the lives of those they work with run so smoothly, and how much easier work is when they're around.

They're unsure how to talk about it: the right time, place, and way to bring it up.

Like you, their work ethic, job knowledge, and friendly, helpful attitude is tremendous, yet far too often, they (also like you, perhaps?) simply do not have powerful yet practical ways to discuss how important their professional contribution is without feeling like they're bragging.

Sound like anyone you know?

You have so much to gain by simply applying a few concrete tips, tools and techniques that will allow you to graciously and professionally assert yourself and convey the scope of your professional contribution while being genuine and not looking, sounding (or feeling!) like a show-off.

Even if you're the most modest and shyest person in the entire IAAP chapter, you can learn how to assert yourself and reap the rewards you are worthy of.

Here, you will learn three of the ten tips I tell women to help them with "Authentic Assertiveness":

Let's look at Tip #1 and consider WHY being Authentically Assertive serves you so well. If you don't express your value, few people will realize what you can do for them.

Let's say you have a ton of errands this Saturday because you need to go to the grocery store, the home improvement depot, the automotive center, and oh yes, you really ought to drop by the post office, because you're about out of stamps.

Now, let's say you've heard of a fairly-priced service that will do these errands for you, AND, they have a spa next door where you can take it easy and get a massage while all of this is taken care of for you!

Would you think that the store that let you know it offered all of this was bragging or being too assertive? Of course not! You'd think, "I had NO idea there was such a place! I'm so glad I know about this now!"

Exactly.

Yet, they had to tell you the value in their services before you knew what they could do for you, right?

If they thought, "Yes, we do a lot for people. But gosh, wouldn't telling our potential clients this seem like bragging?" who would ever know about them? A lot of people who would benefit and love this service would miss out.

Kind of funny when you think about it, isn't it?

The difference between bragging and being Authentically Assertive discussed here in WHY you want to convey your value leads us to our next tip which begins to look at HOW to be Authentically Assertive.

Before you can be assertive and have it feel natural, think about how much you bring to any organization.

It's easier to be assertive in a way that's comfortable to your true nature when you remind yourself that you're talking about your skills and talents simply so your boss (and potential bosses) know what you can do for them.

So, Tips #2 is, just like the company in our example above that takes care of all those necessaries for you, while you go and enjoy an easier day, you need to TELL people what you can do for them in terms of what's in it for them! It's all about them, and how your services and talents can make their work easier, stress-free, pleasant.

Keep the focus on your boss and your co-workers and all you can do for them for two reasons:

1. It doesn't sound like you're bragging if you talk it terms of what your services mean to others and how it improves their lives! So, therefore, you don't feel like the focus is awkwardly on you. 2. If you don't articulate the different ways work and their lives could be easier if you're around taking care of things, exactly how can you expect them to know?

So, the second tip is "Focus on them." What does it mean for them to have you around?

Trust me, people don't get tired of hearing you talk about how their lives could be easier! You're simply letting them know that you have the ability to help make that happen.

Tip #3 to help you be Authentically Assertive is to know your worth in financial terms.

Modesty can be a fine trait, you just want to remember that at work, you are being paid a salary because your work has financial value. And sometimes assertiveness training can be very beneficial.

So, think from a business standpoint of the scope of that value.

You are not being self-centered when you talk in clear terms about the value of your work. After all, if it weren't essential, people wouldn't be paying you to do it!

Personally, I can tell you my business has paid up to $45 an hour for someone who can do what you can do! Yes, that's what I've paid a Virtual Assistant.

Why?

Because you have unique skills! The ability to juggle many balls at once, to not let one drop AND to be pleasant and make the company you represent look good is a specialized talent that's money in the bank for the organization you work with. Have you ever noticed that while a few people might be able to juggle multiple tasks, with some, their social skills get worse with each additional task they manage?

But not you!

Your steady pleasant, helpful attitude that stays upbeat no matter how much you're doing at once and this means great value: * You positively influence customers who might be upset with the company or just having a bad day * You're providing great public relations for your company or organization * Your actions help make your boss's life easier * And of course, you are a positive impact everyone around you. And you know how much easier it is to stay upbeat if you work with positive people.

Keep always in mind how valuable you are to your company and know that in order to reap the benefits of your contribution, there are ways to remind yourself (and others!) what you bring to the table by being Authentically Assertive.

I'm Crystal Jonas. Sign up for my free newsletter at http://assertivenesstraining.biz for more on assertiveness training. I am a nine time published author, and help people communicate who they are at their best. I deliver workshops, keynotes and seminars on the topics of assertiveness, communication and emotional intelligence in over 120 cities per year. I coach assertive communication to people so they can be understood the first time, be valued, appreciated, and wanted.

See my on corporate training website for emotional intelligence at http://qualitycareertraining.com

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