[067] How to Be Assertive On-the-Spot

How can you be assertive on-the-spot? Being assertive when you need to and on-the-spot can be challenging, especially if you’re coming from a more passive style of communication.

It can be really difficult to think of how to respond assertively to a negative comment, in the moment.

I don’t know if this happens to you but sometimes when I’m in front of a stressful conversation, a conflict or a rude comment, I freeze. 

I can’t think of anything to say on-the-spot. I start mumbling. I get anxious. And I don’t know how to respond to this person - until 20 minutes later!

Then I think of what I “should have said” or “could have said” to that person.

This delayed response time isn’t helpful when you want to be assertive on-the-spot.

In this podcast episode, I share with you five techniques to help you be assertive in the moment. 

These are techniques that have helped me as a recovering passive communicator and they have helped thousands of my students in my Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass too.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why is it so hard to think of a response on-the-spot?
• Try to calm your stress response.
• Be prepared, if you can.
• Listen first.
• Get your key message clear in your mind.
• Re-write previous conversations.

Listen to this episode on the podcast platform of your choice: Apple Podcasts, Audible, Spotify, Google and more.

Send Me Your Questions

If you would like to submit your own question for a future Q&A episode, please send an email to kara@executive-impressions.com. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode:

• I talked about the Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass where you can learn the foundational skills to become more assertive in your personal and professional life. Access a discount coupon for this course here.

Other Learning & Development Video Courses!

• Assertive Communication Skills Masterclass
• Business Etiquette 101: Social Skills for Success
• Powerful, Confident Body Language for Women
• Leadership Presence 30 Day Challenge

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