In June 1940, during World War 2 the then British prime minister, Sir Winston Churchill made one of his most famous speeches. The speech which came to be known as We Shall Fight on the Beaches stands out for being motivating, clear and assertive. Here is the last part of the speech:

“We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender, and even if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God’s good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the old.”

Churchill sent out a message of positive hope to his own people and at the same time appeal to the United States of America to come to his aid. Can you sense the assertiveness of that message?

Assertiveness is standing up for your own right in a way that does not violate the other person’s right. It also means expressing your needs, opinions, feelings and beliefs in direct, honest and appropriate ways. Being assertive is not the same as being aggressive.

Being aggressive means violating, ignoring other people’s right to get your own way or to dominate a situation. Aggressive behavior causes the “fight or flight” response from others. It is counterproductive and leads to nowhere. Some people may be quiet and you might think they have seen your point of view but more often than not, they resent your behavior.

Assertiveness leads to a path where open opinions and ideas can discussed openly, positively and with respect. It makes room for “win-win” solution for all concerned.

There are several benefits in being assertive.

– It reduces misunderstanding and all the stress that comes with it
– Improved self-esteem
– It helps to motivate others and to say their opinion and state their ideas
– Others have respect for your opinions and ideas
– Others are clear on where you stand and this makes it easier for you to get your ideas across
– You will be able to say “No” without sounding hostile

Here are 9 ways you can be assertive and put you in a position of control.

1. Make your statements brief and to the point. And also make it crystal clear.
2. Indicate in a plain clear manner that you are not hiding behind someone or something.
3. Go easy on the advice. People usually don’t like it too much to be told that they are wrong.
4. Use questions to seek the views of others and also to gauge their reactions to your behavior
5. Always, yes always distinguish between facts and opinions.
6. Don’t be dogmatic when expressing something. Be positive.
7. Point out that you are aware that others have their point of view
8. If necessary, express without emotion, the negative feeling about the effects of other people’s behavior on you. Be factual.
9. Indicate to people politely the repercussion of their behavior.

Author Bio: A. Majid is interested in reaching his full potential and helping other to reach theirs. Visit Self Help 101 for more tips.

Category: Self Help
Keywords: assertive, assertiveness