2024-05-14 05:43:43
Saying no is an important skill that helps us set boundaries, stand up for ourselves, and take care of our own needs. However, why is it so difficult for us to refuse, why do we feel remorse that by refusing, we are not “good enough” for the person on the other side and why so often the mind and heart refuse, and the mouth agrees – to take on another project, to finish another delayed from another task, to go somewhere we don’t want to…
All these questions are answered by the experts at the new episode of the educational video series “21st Century Skills”, dedicated to assertive communication.
Communicating assertively means stating your own position clearly, but without being rude to others, with respect for their position.
Here are practical guidelines on the subject from experts with many years of experience in training to develop personal skills, Elena Altimirska and Zdravko Dimitrov.
Let’s put communication in the “golden mean” between aggression and passivity
A person interacts with others in three main ways: aggressively, passively, and assertively.
In aggressive communication, a culprit is always sought, and the speaker quickly loses his temper and communication turns into a scandal.
Passive communication is at the other extreme – the person is silent, swallows and agrees with everything, just so as not to hurt the interlocutor. In this case, however, the passive and silent person becomes a victim because he has not stated his wishes and therefore they cannot be respected.
Assertive communication is in the golden mean between the two – we are not rude, but we also clearly state what is acceptable to us and what is not.
Mastering this type of communication can only bring us benefits.
One of the main ones is that it improves our mental health because we focus on what is important to us and express it, it makes us more authentic and clear to others, and this has a beneficial effect on our relationships.
Learning to say “no” assertively
First of all, it is important to know our own wants, needs and limitsexplains Zdravko Dimitrov in the Lidl Bulgaria videocast.
When we are already aware of our abilities and desires, it will be easier for us to confidently say no.
Good advice is to use them clear and short sentences, such as “No thanks” or “I’m sorry, but I can’t.” Avoid over-apologizing or giving unnecessary explanations.
If possible, suggest an alternative that works for you. For example, instead of saying no to a date, you can suggest meeting another time or doing something different.
How to say “no” in the workplace
At work, refusal seems to be more difficult because we often feel threatened by the consequences. In fact, the ability to say “no” at work can do more than just that better professionalsbut also to significantly improve the atmosphere in the team.
When we say no to things that are not important to our immediate work, we free up time and energy for the things that are important. We will be able to achieve our goals more easily, without getting burnt out, overtired and under unnecessary stress.
And one more tip for improving communication in the workplace, shared by Elena Altimirska in the videocast – if you find yourself in a situation at work where you are asked to make a decision, and it’s difficult for you to weigh all the pros and cons, it’s perfectly fine to the things to ask for some timeto make you think.
After a day or two you can give your reasoned answer, but the advantage is that you will have looked at the task from all sides.
What other benefits assertive communication will bring you and why it is identified as one of the key skills of the 21st century, see in see in the new episode of the 21st Century Skills videocast, produced by Lidl Bulgaria.
For the 21st Century Skills videocast:
The 21st Century Skills educational videocast is a continuation of a successful internal personal, social and civic skills training program conducted among employees of Lid.
It provides a platform for conversation on topics important to personal development and growth. The presenters of the videocast are two employees from the HR team of Lidl – Alexandrina Nikolova and Alexander Stoichkov. In conversations with experts, they discuss current topics such as media literacy, building a personal brand in social networks, assertive communication, setting and achieving personal goals, work-life balance, and much more.
The first three episodes generated great interest and were watched by more than 135 thousand people in total.
The episodes of the “21st Century Skills” videocast are available for free on the Lidl Bulgaria channel in YouTubeand every month a new episode will be offered to the audience.