Speak your Mind by Denis McBrinn

The communication skill of being assertive, is about striking the right balance between our needs and the needs of others.
If we are always centred on satisfying our own needs, at the expense of others, we will be perceived as being selfish and aggressive.
On the other hand, if we are always putting the needs of others first and neglecting our own essential needs, we risk being taken for granted and our self-esteem will suffer.
Assertiveness is about finding the right response to situations, that is neither aggressive nor passive. It is an important communication tool, that can be learned and developed, with practice.