Assertive Communication

Communication is a process that requires various styles to put across the message to the audiences. As such we embellishes our speech with decorative words and expression so as to persuade and entice the listeners. At this moment in time am going to discuss with you on “assertive” as a style of communication. Language and facts have to be dressed in style just like fashion. Watson (1998) quotes Charle's Dickens in his book “Hard Times” “ Just like in Life, in education facts! facts and more facts are important”. Therefore any communication made should be based on facts and I mean valid and strong facts. Facts are star-born and difficult if not impossible to delete and make sense to the intended audiences. Time is precious and as such it is important not to waste peoples time by waffling. Get to the subject topic with clear facts to decipher the message. As a lecturer and avid reader, l always insist that facts should be allowed to manifest itself whenever need be. Be it a speech, conversation and social chat let facts stand and be counted to the interpreter. Facts are based on clear ideas that can be counted assessed , evaluated and quantified by whoever. Facts gives us confidence and are time effective. You gain respect, love and audience by issuing them in numbers. In a conversation facts are effective and healthiest form of communication that can lead one to what is termed “ assertive style of communication”. It is the mannerism in which we spontaneously select terms and shoo them to express ourselves when our self-esteem is intact. Assertive Communication often giving us the confidence to communicate without games and manipulation. Be it that your audience will be left clicking their tongs, in stitches, shading off tears or smiling, admiring your language command or carelessness, facts should be counted and be heard straight from the speakers mouths. Speakers who are assertive, work hard to create mutually satisfying solutions. This enable both the decipher and interpreter to decode the message with less effort which fosters effective communications. Who ever is speaking or communicating should make his or here needs clearly and forthrightly understood. Assertive communicators strive to create and maintain a strong which enhances a win/win negotiations. As an assertive communicator you know your limits and refuse to be pushed beyond them just because someone else wants or needs something from us. For example if you want your car to be serviced in time and get to work. It should be said out clearly, simple that you expect the service to be down in your anticipated time. You give reasons why it should be like that. I have noted with concern in every day life that people especially in Africa avoid assertive style of communication in fear that they will be called names or that they will be perceived as arrogant yet this is the most effective and powerful style of putting the message across to your work mate, friends and relatives. In my tribe and community in Zimbabwe l observed that people use assertive style of communication less than other styles of communication such as aggressive and passive communication.