The Assertive Communication Formula

Need help getting people to trust you whenever selling your projects? 

Use the Assertive Communication Formula when communicating with your clients, collaborators, and superiors.

The Three Main Communication Styles

There are three main communication styles:

• Aggressive
• Passive
• Assertive

Aggressive Communication

By using the Aggressive Communication Style, you impose your criteria, giving the impression that you don’t care about the other person’s needs.

It can be threatening or intimidating.

Imagine that, after explaining to your client a solution to her problem, she asks:

“How do I know it will work for me?”

An aggressive response would be:

“It will work because I say so.” 

This will be interpreted as hostile and will produce rejection.

Passive Communication

By using the Passive Communication Style, you will become a doormat, putting the needs of others before your own to avoid conflict at all costs.

You will appear insecure, even if you are knowledgeable in your field.

A Passive Response would be:

“I think it might work if we tried…”

Communicating this way lowers the value of what you say, generating doubt in your listener.

Assertive Communication

By using the Assertive Communication Style, you will communicate from a confident and humble position. You will state your position clearly, considering both your needs and those of your listener.

An Assertive response would be:

“It will work. And I’m sure of this because, after pulling out a client history report for the past 10 years, narrowing it down to your context, we’ve discovered that the effectiveness exceeds 97%”.

The Assertive Communication Formula in 3 Steps

The assertiveness formula responds to the acronym SEE = being Straightforward + using Evidence + having Empathy.

1. Being Straightforward, direct, with no hesitation: “It will work.”
2. Using Evidence demonstrates with objective data that what you say is accurate and not just an opinion. “After pulling out a client history report for the past 10 years, narrowing it down to your context, we’ve discovered that the effectiveness exceeds 97%”.
3. Saying it with Empathy shows that you wish to build a relationship.

The assertive communication style is the one that strengthens professional relationships and achieves positive results. 

Use the SEE formula.

You will gain people’s trust and reach agreements much more quickly, a vital step towards a fulfilling career.