If you feel like you should be more assertive at work, or you've had other people around you recommend that you start being more assertive, it can be hard to know what to do about it. After all, what does 'being assertive' actually mean and how can you be assertive if it isn't something that feels like it comes naturally to you?

This episode of HR Coffee Time is here to help. Professional communication coach Trisha Lewis joins career coach, Fay Wallis, to share her fresh approach to being more assertive.

Trisha talks through a whole range of ideas including:

• The aggressive/assertive continuum
• Self-squashing and unsquashing
• The female 'double-bind'
• The warmth/strength quadrant
• Being assertive in a way that feels authentic for you
• How feedback and role play can help

Useful Links

• Connect with Fay on LinkedIn
• Fay’s website: Bright Sky Career Coaching
• Connect with Trisha on LinkedIn
• Trisha Lewis’ website
• Trisha’s TedX talk: The Self-Squashing Prophecy
• The 7 Best TED Talks for Career Success (includes Amy Cuddy’s talk about body language)

Book Recommendations

(Disclosure: the book links are affiliate links which means that Fay will receive a small commission from Amazon if you make a purchase through them)

• Trisha’s book: ‘The Mystery of the Squashed Self: How to stop self-sabotaging and make your business thrive’ by Trisha Lewis
• Trisha’s book recommendation: ‘Compelling People: the hidden qualities that make us influential’ by John Neffinger & Matthew Kohut

Other Relevant HR Coffee Time Episodes

• Episode 78: 5 tips to get useful feedback at work to help your HR/People career
• Episode 57: Using the Johari Window to develop & grow in your HR career (a great feedback tool)

Rate and Review the Podcast

If you found this episode of HR Coffee Time helpful, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you're kind enough to leave a review, let Fay know so she can say thank you. You can always reach her at: [email protected].

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How Fay & Bright Sky Career Coaching Can Help You

If you’ve been enjoying the podcast & would like some support from Fay or her colleagues at Bright Sky, take a look at all their services detailed on the Bright Sky Career Coaching website.

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