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One of the most important keys to leadership success is your level of
assertiveness. The top leaders learn how to
calibrate an appropriate level of assertiveness based on
the situation. That’s the conclusion reached by Daniel
Ames, a professor specializing in leadership issues at
Columbia Business School in New York City.
“In our
work with students and executives, when we ask work
colleagues to comment on “What’s holding this person
back from being a great leader?” we don’t see the
absence of intelligence, the absence of drive, the
absence of charisma. What comes up more often than
anything else is assertiveness,” says Professor Ames,
in a recent interview published by
Columbia Business School.
Finding a Balance is Key
Ames
goes on to explain that the key is to find a balance.
“Some managers are seen as too assertive, too
overbearing, too competitive,” Ames explained. “Others
are seen as not assertive enough: they get pushed around
easily; they’re not able to stand their ground or get
their way.”
So what
can you do to find the right level of assertiveness?
Ames says that the first step is to find out how you’re
perceived. “Getting candid feedback is the first step,”
he says. “Often this means some kind of multi-rater or
360-degree evaluation system, because the people around
us won’t tell us to our faces that they think we’re a
jerk or they think we’re a wimp. This may be especially
true for people who are over-assertive.”
Learn to Manage Situational Behavior
Once
you’re aware of your style, you can then learn to manage
your behavior depending on the situation. “Can people
become more aware of their behavioral repertoire and
make different choices?” asks Ames. “Absolutely. We see
it all the time with our students. We’re not asking
people to rewrite their personalities, but we are
encouraging them to rethink what behaviors are most
appropriate in different situations. And we find with
the right awareness and the right kind of coaching they
can absolutely do it.”
At Speechworks we help our clients learn how to communicate in a way that
connects and persuades. If you’re interested in
becoming a great communicator give us a call at
404-266-0888 or check out our website at
www.speechworks.net.
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