Canadian Tire Corporation (SWOT analysis)

Being Assertive. When we are assertive, we respect ourselves by expressing our wants and needs without crossing other people’s boundaries. It is a communication style that allows us to be respectful without being walked all over or being unkind to someone else. Here are some tips on how to be assertive:

 Determine what you want. Be specific and clear about what you want. For example, if you want your roommate to do more dishes, come up with a schedule: “I would like it if you could do the dinner dishes every other day”. This shows confidence and helps avoid any confusion for the other person.

1. Use “I” Statements. Using I statements avoids placing blame on the other person. Saying something like, “When you don’t do the dishes, I feel annoyed” is far more effective than saying, “You make me so irritated when you don’t do the dishes!”. Defensiveness is a normal response to feeling blamed, so try to not put the other person on guard.
2. Express underlying emotions. When we’re angry, its easy to yell at the other person and tell them how ticked off we are. While screaming at someone might help us blow off some steam, it does very little to solve the problem and the other person will become defensive and may withdraw. Typically, there are underlying emotions below our initial feeling of anger. What else are you feeling? By expressing deeper emotions like sadness, hurt, or fear, we are more likely to receive a supportive and collaborative response than if we share anger.
3. Focus on the person’s behaviour, not their personality. Try to avoid personally attacking the other person. Behaviour is something that we can change but altering our personality is a much more daunting task. People feel attacked when you target their personality and will probably respond with anger. So avoid saying, “You’re such a jerk!” and say something like, “When you said that you didn’t want to spend the evening with me, I felt hurt”.
4. Avoid using words like “always” and “never”. Most of us are guilty of saying something like, “you never do the dishes!”. This is a counter-productive statement and will immediately put someone on guard. By avoiding these definitive words, the conflict stays on track instead of becoming an argument of who said this or did that.
5. Empathize with the other person. Being assertive isn’t a free card to be a jerk to someone. Remember that the other person also has valid feelings, thoughts, and opinions. Put yourself in their shoes, try to understand where they are coming from, and reflect this understanding back to them. A solution is always easier to find when everyone feels heard.
6. Watch your body language and tone. As human beings, we communicate a lot of information non-verbally. Try to stand tall, face the person when you speak, and make eye contact. Use a calm, clear tone and avoid mumbling.

 It would be great if our needs and wants were always met when we were assertive, but that’s not always the case. You can be the most assertive person in the world and the other person may not want or be able to give you what you need. Being assertive is less about getting your needs met and more about learning to express yourself in a way that is respectful and kind to others. By simply sharing what you want, you can help avoid that uncomfortable feeling of resentment, honor yours and others’ feelings, and build healthy relationships.