Speak Your Mind Unapologetically Podcast

The world has been changing fast with the pandemic, rise of social issues, and increased uncertainty. And with it the workplace has also been changing at a much faster pace. In order to thrive in this new workplace of the future, it is important to understand how these changes and trends are going affect your workplace relationships and what you can do about it. This episode is the first of a series of 3 where we'll explore the top workplace trends and what you need to do to prepare to be surfing on these trends, not drowning. In this episode, you'll discover the secrets to thrive with these 3 workplace trends: Remote and hybrid work Virtual meetings More work flexibility (both location and time) 👉🏼 LINKS Show notes: https://assertiveway.com/49/ Part 2 of the Future Of Work Post Pandemic: https://speakyourmindnow.libsyn.com/future-of-work-post-pandemic-what-you-need-to-know-now-part-2 Free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude and other freebies: https://assertiveway.com/free Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter

Do you view yourself as "nice"? Do others describe you as "nice"? Do you always enjoy being "nice"? Have you ever stopped to think about what being nice actually means to you? In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ 9 questions to find out of you have an internal conflict with being nice ✔️ 3 questions to discover what being nice really means to you ✔️ 14 alternatives to being nice that will make you more proud of yourself 👉🏼LINKS Show notes: https://assertiveway.com/47/ Free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude and other free resources on assertive communication: https://assertiveway.com/free Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter

In this episode, The expert on leadership for women Maria Kauffman interviews me about my path to assertiveness. Maria also shares how she learned and applied assertiveness too. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️The exact script Maria used to tell her sister to not steal her clothes that worked like a charm ✔️What to do when you find out a less competent male coworker earns more than you ✔️Challenges in a career as a female engineer ✔️How to ask your boss for what you want ✔️How to encourage your team to be more assertive ✔️Is trying to please your boss people pleasing? 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude and other free resources on assertive communication: https://assertiveway.com/free 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter

Many of the top career challenges people face can be solved through the right type of communication: getting a promotion, changing jobs, holding employees accountable, managing own professional brand, being heard and seen, being taken seriously by team members, losing good employees. The challenge is that people often feel like communicating what they want will come across as rude, unreasonable, or aggressive. So, they don't speak up, and problems snowball into bigger frustrations. But what if you could communicate what you want to say at work without being perceived as unreasonable, aggressive, offensive, or rude? What could that do for your career? A lot! That's what these workplace situations show. In this inspiring episode you'll find out 10 real-life examples of what assertive communication can do for your career. Invisible and stuck -> Fast-track promotions Applied for a role and didn't get it -> New role created Losing good employees -> Happy retained employees No promotion in 6 years despite hard-working, highly qualified, and indispensable -> Promoted to desired role on the spot Leader seen as aggressive -> Leader kept edge and effectiveness while being more liked Lack of confidence to participate in larger meetings with superiors -> Confidently speaking in any meeting Seen as rude when direct -> Seen as helpful when direct Employees were not taking manager seriously -> Authority as manager respected Stuck in uninspiring business function -> Change to new business function despite no prior experience Stuck as individual contributor -> Got first people manager role 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here: https://assertiveway.com/44/ 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude and other free resources on assertive communication: https://assertiveway.com/free 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter

In this episode you'll find out exactly what assertive communication soft skills you need at your job level to succeed. ✔️ Individual contributor assertive skills needed ✔️ Line manager assertive skills needed ✔️ Mid manager assertive skills needed ✔️ Senior leader assertive skills needed 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here: https://assertiveway.com/important-assertiveness-skills-you-need-at-your-job-level/ 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude and other free resources on assertive communication: https://assertiveway.com/free 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude: https://assertiveway.com/newsletter

Find out how to be assertive at work without being pushy, aggressive, rude, or a jerk in this introductory training. ✔️ What are doormat problems? ✔️ How can assertiveness help you? ✔️ What does assertiveness mean? ✔️ When should you be assertive? ✔️ What is your communication type? ✔️ What is the assertive mindset? ✔️ How to adopt an assertive body language? ✔️ What are assertive expressions and language? ✔️ How to manage your negative emotions? ✔️ How to use curiosity to gain more clarity and be more assertive? ✔️ How to express yourself with confidence ✔️ How to avoid weak language ✔️ How to express yourself in assertive situations 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude.

The challenge for women is not only the man-centric more aggressive and competitive company cultures, but also the double-bind dilemma when women do take charge according to research done by Catalyst. Here are 6 key differences between how men and women communicate in the workplace that do not favor women in these men-centric work cultures, and tips on how to overcome them without losing your feminine strengths. 👉🏼 Podcast episode: top 10 daily challenges women face at work. 👉🏼Podcast episode: Ladies, 10 Credibility Killer Mistakes That Undermine You At Work (and what to do instead). 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here. 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude. 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude.

Speaking up doesn't only happen when someone is treating you poorly. Speaking up happens every time you speak with someone with a clear purpose. Here are 50 opportunities to speak up at work that will bring you closer to your dreams, to your desired lifestyle, and success. 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here. 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude. 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude.

Find out why not speaking up is hurting your financial wellness, and what to do about it. This is a two-part series with a total of 16 powerful ways for you to protect your money by being more assertive. In this episode, you'll get 8 ways, and another 8 in the previous episode. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ 2 things to ask your accountant or financial advisor before you decide to work with them, even if they get upset. ✔️ Important non-taboo money conversations to have with colleagues, friends and family. ✔️ Why you shouldn't give away your financial decision rights. ✔️ 8 things you need to be informed about to make good financial decisions. ✔️ Debunking the stories you tell yourself to not prioritize your money. ✔️ The real reason why some people still make donations when they are broke. ✔️ Why talking to your spouse about money, even if they don't want to, is still worth it. ✔️ Why having your own financial goals can help you protect your money. 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here. 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude. 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude. 👉🏼Listen to part 1 of "The 8 Things No One Told You About How To Protect Your Hard-Earned Money"

Find out why not speaking up is killing your money, and what to do about it. This is a two-part series with a total of 16 powerful ways for you to be more assertive with your money. In this episode, you'll get 8 ways, and another 8 in the next episode. In this episode, you'll discover: ✔️ Excuses you tell yourself to not take charge of your money ✔️ Why employment benefits are usually not used and what to do. ✔️ One powerful reason why you have to negotiate your compensation when you get a new job, even if it feels pushy. ✔️ Don't ask your boss for a raise, do this instead. ✔️ Why you need a financial team and who should be in it. ✔️ 4 ways that the irresistible loan, credit card, nice financial advisor extract eat up all your savings and what conversations to have. ✔️ Why you need to negotiate terms and conditions. ✔️ The truth about why you feel scared of asking stupid financial questions. ✔️ What bankers and advisors are not telling you: they are not fiduciary! 👉🏼 Get the full show notes here. 👉🏼 Get access to a free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude. 👉🏼 Sign up for Assertive Way Newsletter for valuable tips on how to speak up and be more assertive without being aggressive or rude. 👉🏼Listen here to the second episode with anther 8 speaking up tips for your financial wellness.

Let's face it, women face many disadvantages at work: Male-favoring workplace cultures Dominating and aggressive male personalities Gender bias and gender pay gap Double-bind effect Glass ceiling Limited childcare support Sexual harassment Discriminated when pregnant or with children Automatically assumed to be less committed than men Limited sponsorship Women are often talked over, interrupted, passed over for promotions, dismissed, discredited, labeled, undermined, excluded for important meetings and projects, ignored, and given vague and non-helpful feedback and explanations. But what is not talked about as much are the daily hurdles that women have that halts their career growth, consumes their energy, and damages their confidence. Here are 10 of the top everyday challenges real women have to deal in the workplace and a simple yet powerful tool that any woman can use to help overcome them. Not Taken Seriously Perceived As Too Difficult Or Too Aggressive Constantly Questioned Told They Are Too Outspoken Or "Bitchy" Not Treated As An Equal Negative Spotlight Feel Forced To Be Inauthentic Bro Culture Misfit Loneliness No Work-Life Balance Get the full episode show notes here: https://assertiveway.com/41-2/ In my Assertive Way newsletter, I give weekly tips and inspiration to help you master empathetic assertiveness, be heard, get taken seriously, get your point across and claim your voice to claim your life. Click here to sign up for the free Assertive Way newsletter or click here to get started with a crash course on how to be assertive without being rude.

Have you ever written an email or letter to someone who you were frustrated with? It's tempting to send a scathing message to someone to prove them wrong or to express how miserable they made your life, because it feels really good to express yourself. However, when the main goal of a letter or email is to vent off frustration and to prove yourself right to the other person, then that is an angry letter or email. Angry messages are not assertive. They don't address problems, they don't improve the relationships, they don't change other people's behaviors, and they won't make you feel better. They also cause more friction and don't get others to empathize with your situation. A Chinese proverb says "Never write a letter while you are angry" especially if you don't want to have regrets later. Angry letters are great if written and left unsent. They help you better cope with frustration, name your negative emotions, and release them. Here are 8 questions to help you identify if you wrote an angry letter that will make the problem worse. And 4 things to avoid saying when you are angry at someone. Get the full episode notes here. Get started now with a crash course on how to be more assertive without being rude, aggressive, or a jerk by clicking here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more free training, tips, and resources like this in your inbox every week: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Or watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/dSTAR42jdVs Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Are most of your compliments a "great job" or "well done?" Those are shortcut compliments, the least effective form of positive feedback. They are vague and don't provide any insight as to what you liked and why you liked it. They are also ineffective to change behavior because the compliment receivers will not know what behavior led to the compliment. Limitation 1 – Did you know that many people don't believe or agree with the compliments they receive? If they don't believe in your compliment, they will distrust you more instead of feeling more connected and motivated. Limitation 2 – The second limitation of "good job" is that it doesn't work when complimenting more senior people like your boss or mentor. "Good job" and "well done" inherently imply that you are judging the other person's actions. Limitation 3 – The third limitation of "good job" is that it limits your ability to share positive feedback, which is important for nurturing positive relationships. It has a very narrow scope and is usually used for people who excelled or won something, which means it excludes most people from getting a compliment. Here are 5 better ways to say "good job" or "well done" that work for anyone. These compliments are more thoughtful, effective, and impactful. You can also include more than one in a single compliment for even more impact. Get the full episode notes here. Get started now with a crash course on how to be more assertive without being rude, aggressive, or a jerk by clicking here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more free training, tips, and resources like this in your inbox every week: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Or watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/dSTAR42jdVs Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Not all judgement is created equal. You can't get rid of others judgment of you, but you can police the access doors to your inner sanctuary. Here are 12 questions to help you know when to not take judgment and criticism seriously: Will their judgement matter 3 years from now? Can their judgement cause you any real harm? Does the judgement have any significant meaning for you? Are they actually judging you? Do you admire and respect them? Are they well intentioned? Are they knowledgeable enough? Do they understand your perspective? Do you agree with their expectation of you? Do you want feedback on that topic now? Is the way they are delivering judgment serving you? What does someone that you actually admire and respect think of you? For the episode notes, click here. Get started now with a crash course on how to be more assertive without being rude, aggressive, or a jerk by clicking here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more free training, tips, and resources like this in your inbox every week: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Or watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/dSTAR42jdVs Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Do you know the difference between introvert, shyness, passive behavior, and social anxiety? Many people confuse those terms and use them interchangeably. It took me a long to understand the difference. It is useful to understand what each one means so that you can focus on what you need the most. Introversion is about your energy. Shyness is fear of people's judgement. Social anxiety is extreme shy. Passive is not speaking up for what you need, want, and believe. Overcoming social anxiety is liberating, overcoming shyness is joyful; overcoming passivity gives you control. You can be mellow, soft-spoken, and assertive like the Dalai Lama. Shy leaders may struggle to get buy In, inspire confidence in others, and protect their people. Introverted leaders can be exceptional like Warren Buffet, Albert Einstein, Gandhi, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks. Passive leaders may struggle to protect others, give constructive feedback, maintain team morale, secure resources, earn respect, and get buy in. If people describe you as nice, people-pleaser, obedient, doormat, hesitant, shy, selfless, submissive, then you may act passively. Get the full episode notes at: https://assertiveway.com/are-you-introverted-shy-anxious-or-passive-how-to-tell/ Want more? Get started now with a crash course on how to be more assertive without being rude, aggressive, or a jerk by clicking here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more free training, tips, and resources like this in your inbox every week: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Or watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/dSTAR42jdVs Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Worry about what people think is like a lasting fog on your happiness path. Don't worry about what people think of you, worry about what you think of you. Here is how you can increase your focus on yourself so you can stop worrying about what others think of you and start being free. Complete the following phrases: "Success is …", "My top values are …", "The purpose of what I do is …", "My top goal this year is …", "I am grateful for …", and "I like … and I don't like …" Get the episode show notes here. Get started building your confidence with speaking up assertive skills with this free crash course and other resources by clicking here. Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

To feel more confident, often all you need is an outside perspective to get out of your negative overthinking. Here are 8 ways to change your perspective on a negative interaction. Write it out as if writing to someone else. Consider who you are and what you stand for. Share it with someone who will give you honest feedback. Research it to gain more knowledge. Play your own devil's advocate. Ask for clarification from the person involved. Rethink it when you are in a good mood. Zoom out in time and space. Get the episode notes: https://assertiveway.com/8-ways-to-be-more-confident-with-perspective/ Get started on boosting your confidence with this free crash course on assertive communication. Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Find out the secret sauce to speaking up with assertive communication in a heart-driven way. Heart-centered assertive communication is communication that brings people together to help each other out while at the same building the relationship. These are the 10 principles to keep in mind as you are assertive in a heart-centered way. 05:39 Courage 07:20 Candid 09:19 Curiosity 12:25 Centered 13:26 Calm 15:41 Connection 16:43 Confrontation 19:19 Consideration 20:59 Care 21:43 Clarity Read the episode show notes on this at https://www.assertiveway.com/33 Get started with this free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude or these other resources here. Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

The top reason people shy away from speaking up and expressing their needs, boundaries, desires, true thoughts, and feelings are their fears of speaking up. This happens especially with those who don't like to confront others or to engage in conflict because of these fears, that many are very aware of but don't know how to overcome. Any people pleasers out there? Nice people? When you don't fully express yourself and speak up for yourself and for your needs over and over again, you end up feeling misunderstood and disrespected. And that leads to you also feeling overwhelmed, resentful, and frustrated. That is why people who don't speak up feel less connected to other people, are taken advantage of regularly, and waste most of their potential. They work more, get paid less, get less recognition, less appreciation, and still get yelled at more. The top four fears of speaking up are the fear of coming across as rude, offensive, aggressive, or mean; the fear of being disliked; the fear of hurting people's feelings; and the fear of retaliation or backlash. The good news is that these visceral speaking up fears that feel so real are in reality unjustified. You can speak up and still avoid all the negative things on the other side of those fears. Here the 4 top speaking up fears debunked. 09:42 Fear of coming across as rude, offensive, or aggressive 15:02 Fear of hurting people's feelings 17:57 Fear of not being liked 22:53 Fear of retaliation and backlash Read the episode show notes on this at https://www.assertiveway.com/34 Get started with this free crash course on how to be assertive without being rude or these other resources here. Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Do men not take you seriously at work? Being a woman in a male-dominated workplace is not easy.... Do guys question everything you do? Your credibility? Underestimate your intelligence? Even guys with less experience! Do you feel like you have to constantly prove yourself? Unfortunately, sexism and gender bias is a real thing! And being the only woman in the room or one of the few around makes it more difficult... Here's what's important to know... Perceived credibility is not always about your diplomas and experience. People, and men in particular, associate confidence to competence…even if you are clearly competent. And the good news is there are small adjustments you can make that will instantly increase the credibility factor, even if you already know how smart and credible you are so that you don't have to repeatedly prove your credibility and competence. When you make a few small changes, you'll start to notice how others will respect you more, listen to you, and take you more seriously. There are better ways to be polite, friendly, kind, and warm that don't accidently undermine your competence. This episode shows you 10 credibility killer mistakes that you might be making that undermine you at work (plus examples and what to do instead). Get started now with a crash course on how to be more assertive without being rude, aggressive, or a jerk by clicking here. Sign up for our newsletter to get more free training, tips, and resources like this in your inbox every week: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Or watch the video version of this episode: https://youtu.be/dSTAR42jdVs Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

If you are the kind of person that is very nice, or if you want to make sure you don't hurt other people's feelings, or if you really want people to like you, chances are you dread conflict and confrontation. Ironically, by avoiding conflict and not bringing up important issues that bother you in a timely manner, you may end up hurting people, being mean, and pushing people away from you. Sooner or later, you'll feel misunderstood, stressed, and taken for granted. Which means that over time you'll start to feel resentful and frustrated towards others. And even if you don't say anything it can come across in your mannerisms, micro expressions, tone, and body language which means you'll trust people less, assume they're trying to take advantage of you, and to be more difficult. Not only that, but you'll also start to have the "poor me" mindset, which most people don't find pleasant. All of this non-verbal and verbal negativity will come across and push people away from you. Find out: Why You Dread Conflict And Confrontation A Good Reason For Your Concern Of Conflict What Happens When Conflict And Confrontation Become Normal What Is Conflict And Confrontation Afterall? The 3 Types Of Conflict 6 Myths About Conflict Conflict and confrontation are bad. Conflict is caused by difficult, angry, or aggressive trouble-making people. Conflict means there's a problem in the relationship. Time will heal the pain without the need for conflict. Confrontation is painful and overwhelming. Kind people don't confront. Get the full episode notes: https://assertiveway.com/29 Download the pdf freebie with 13 confrontation myths debunked and 5 steps to overcome fear of confrontation: https://assertiveway.aweb.page/29download Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

Is fear holding you up from speaking up? One of the biggest challenges people face when trying to speak up comes from inside: it's their fears. Fear of backlash, fear of being misunderstood, fear of upsetting other people, fear of retaliation, fear of being reported on, fear of not being liked, fear of being labeled difficult, fear of bothering people, worry that you'll be ignored no matter what, fear of what people might think of you, fear of embarrassment, or ridicule and looking like a fool, of people judging you, thinking you are stupid, or of coming across as rude. The fear shows up as worry that goes to bed with you and keeps you unsettled at night. It can show up as being paranoid about how people think of you. It can show up as rumination about what to say or not to say and overthinking which leads to inaction. I can't think of a single time I regretted speaking up. And I can think of dozens of times with speaking up radically changed my life for the better. Now the fear was always there for me when I had to speak up for something important. The more important to me, the bigger the fear. How can you speak up even if you feel the fear? Frustrated that people don't take you seriously? We'll help you. It is time to be heard, be respected, and get recognized. And never be fearful when you speak up again. Visit our website here to speak up without being rude.

It can hurt when someone responds to what you say by saying, "are you on your period?", "you're too sensitive," or "you seem very emotional." In the example I share in this episode, this businesswoman responds to the accusation in a very assertive way in five simple steps. She imposes her boundaries and stays positive in the end. Get the show notes here. Responding to unfair accusations is part of assertive communication. Watch a free training on how to be assertive at work without being aggressive or rude here. Listen to this businesswoman describe her hard conversation here.

This is the best time of the year to review and celebrate your accomplishments, learnings, and experiences. How do you review your year? Join me as we honor and acknowledge your year together! This episode is part 1 of a 3-part series that will walk you through your year-end review with eye-opening questions. These annual review prompts will help you reflect on, appreciate, and celebrate your year. All three parts will be rolled out this month. This is part of a 31-day 2021 Review Challenge where you get daily review prompts to analyze and self-reflect on your year. You can sign up for the challenge at https://assertiveway.aweb.page/2021reviewchallenge. By the end, you'll have your full annual review and reflections. We go beyond the obvious basics and go deep in an unforgettable and inspiring intimate date with yourself. This challenge is for you if you want to celebrate your 2021, find out what you achieved in 2021 even if you think you didn't achieve anything, and prepare for a successful new year. "Reflection is one of the most underused yet powerful tools for success." – Richard Carlson. Learn more about what we offer at https://assertiveway.com.

Many people think they have to be aggressive to get ahead in their careers because of the aggressive work culture in many companies. But they are not willing to be that kind of person. And the worst part is they feel that if they don't want to be an aggressive, rude person, then they will certainly stay stuck forever. The reality is that you can be a nice person and get ahead at the same time. You'll still need to speak up and advocate for yourself, and you can do so in a polite and respectful way. Lean more about the skill that allows you to be a good person and still get ahead here.

Do you feel like you're always being judged by others? Do you feel like people judge you unfairly? Does it bother you? Let me show you how to worry less about being judged. Judgement always feels like a threat, but most of the time it isn't. And in the few moments where there is a real threat, you have more influence over the outcome then you think. Not all judgement is created equal. You can't get rid of others judgment of you, but you can police the access doors to your sanctuary. In this episode you'll discover 12 questions to help you know when to not take judgment seriously. To learn more about how to advocate for yourself, sign up for our assertiveness newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.

It can feel intimidating to speak up in meetings with many people, that have people more senior than you, or where everyone speaks at the same time. Speaking and participating in meetings doesn't have to be difficult! In this episode, you'll discover 7 great techniques to easily insert yourself into those meeting conversations, so that you never have to enter and leave a meeting in complete silence ever again. To learn more about speaking up in various situations, signup for our assertive communication newsletter at: https://www.assertiveway.com/newsletter

No one likes to be interrupted. Everyone likes to feel heard. If you feel like people interrupt you often, walk all over you, and don't listen to what you have to say, then there are some techniques that can help you better handle interruptions in an elegant way. In this episode, you'll find out many strategies to handle rude interruptions graciously. To learn more about how to stand up for yourself, learn assertive communication. Start right now by signing up for our assertiveness newsletter as www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.

In this interview, Asia shares 3 ways to promote your work in a non-weird way, how to become the CEO of your career, and the dangers of people-pleasing for your career. Asia is the founder of the bad boss breakthrough initiative and Bridgewell professional services. Asia is a leadership and empowerment expert, professional coach and speaker, and coaches accomplished professionals who are already to be fully recognized for their contributions. You can find her at linkedin or her company website bridgewellpro.com. To learn more about assertiveness, sign up for our newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Check the full article and transcript based on this interview at: https://assertiveway.com/interview-with-asia-bribiesca-hedin/

If you don't have a confident assertive non-verbals and body language, people won't take you seriously even if your words are impressive. Non-verbals include posture, eye contact, hands, head, voice, and gestures. In this episode, you'll discover how to master your non-verbals so that you feel more confident, feel respected, and heard. To learn more about boosting your confidence with assertive communication, sign up for our free newsletter at www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.

Do you struggle with any of these communication challenges at work? Feel underappreciated, under-valued and not recognized for your hard-work? Often find yourself quiet in situations where you wish you had said something? Ruminate and replay responses over and over in your mind? Feel conflicted between speaking up and being a decent nice person? Are afraid of sounding mean, aggressive, or rude when you stand up for yourself? Find it hard to ask for what you want? Want to feel in control over your career and time? Miss out on opportunities at work because others don't notice you? Do you feel these emotional challenges at work? Guilt Impostor syndrome Overwhelm Shame Stress Hopeless Non-Assertiveness may the reason for your frustrations! Don't worry, you'll learn how to be more assertive without being rude in this straightforward podcast training. You'll: Understand what assertiveness means and how it can help you Identify the 4 communication types Know when to communicate assertively Adopt these 5 assertiveness beliefs Identify assertive expressions Recognize 20 assertiveness strategies Join our newsletter to get new soft skill and assertiveness tips every week. Sign up at: www.assertiveway.com/newsletter Visit our website to see our offerings and free resources: www.assertiveway.com

Saying no and setting boundaries is challenging for giving people. Do you ever: skip your already short vacations; take work calls during dinner? Work more after hours more than you'd like? Accept unreasonable deadlines? Take more work trips than you'd like; Take on a work that is other's responsibility? Take the hit for other people's mistakes? Work often during your vacations? My friend, it's time for you to defend your happiness and say no! And it doesn't have to be impolite... In this episode you'll learn exactly how to say no in a kind and caring way, so that you don't have to feel guilty about it! Saying no and setting boundaries is part of assertive communication skills. Assertiveness is about expressing your boundaries, desires, rights, views, feelings, needs in an polite and respectful way, without getting nervous about it. Start to master assertiveness with this 35 min free introduction course that you can get here: www.assertiveway.com/free Signup for our newsletter to get tips like these every week: www.assertiveway.com/newsletter.

Confidence makes us feel good, increases our performance, and also changes how other people treat us. The question is, how can you quickly increase your confidence? I interview Paulette Dale, Ph.D., professor Emeritus, and author of "Did You Say Something, Susan? How Any Woman Can Gain Confidence With Assertive Communication" to find out how to build confidence with assertive communication. In this episode, Paulette talks about how to respond to unfair accusations like "you are too aggressive / selfish / sensitive", why so many women fail to assert themselves, assertiveness, compliments, and much more. Get this episode's summary, article, infographics, and mp3 / podcast version here: https://assertiveway.com/paulette Read Paulette's book "Did You Say Something, Susan? How Any Woman Can Gain Confidence With Assertive Communication": https://www.amazon.com/Did-Something-Susan-Second-Communication/dp/B09J1S6DCS Get a free 35 training on how to be assertive at www.assertiveway.com/free.

Want to be a better advocate for others without coming across as difficult while still taking care of your own needs? Attorney Dorian Morello describes her best strategies to achieve that fine balance. She also talks about how she handles people who challenge her credibility as a female lawyer. And how to earn respect from people who don't take you seriously. Find the transcript and key points from this interview in this article: https://assertiveway.com/advocate-for-others-like-an-attorney Learn to better advocate for yourself and others with assertive communication skills, that you can start learning for free at www.assertiveway.com/free

Moving to a new country can be overwhelming, lonely, and stressful. What's the secret to thrive in a new culture? I interviewed Henri Nkuepo, international lawyer and author of "New Immigrant Playbook – Strategies for Success in Your New Country" to find out. Henri gives inspiring examples from his own experience adjusting to a new culture as a professional. He shares how to get the right sources for advice, how to reach out to the right people, and some of the most important skills needed. He also shares his biggest mistakes and what he would have done differently. One important skill that Henri talks about is becoming his best advocate. Assertive communication allows you to advocate for yourself. Assertiveness is the skill of expressing your needs, wants, desires, rights, thoughts, and feelings in an anxious-free and respectful way. Start learning assertiveness with one of our free introductory trainings at www.assertiveway.com/free. To learn more about how to adapt in a new culture, get Henri's book, "New Immigrant Playbook – Strategies for Success in Your New Country". To see the summary article, infographics, and transcript from this interview visit: https://assertiveway.com/henri/

We all want to be successful and to have several opportunities to get ahead. The good news is that you don't have to wait for opportunities to happen for you. But you have to create the ecosystem for opportunities to show up in your life. Here's how to increase opportunities for yourself in your career and life: Have clarity in your goals. Help others. Show your work and do so with passion. Get out there and be visible. Ask for what you want. Ask for feedback often even if you are scared of criticism. Get more exposure to new opportunities. Network and leverage your network. Be curious. Be assertive. Share your ideas openly even if you don't think they are great. Sell the vision of your idea to others and especially to senior or powerful people. Address needs in the market. Always keep an eye on your alternatives even if you are happy in your current situation. Share your story, beliefs, values, and messages with the world. Take calculated risks to try something new and prove a concept. Be persistent even when they say no. Embrace challenges and problems as potential opportunities. What do these ways of creating opportunities have in common? They are uncomfortable at times. They push you to proactively take action even if you are scared of looking like a fool and being judged by others. They are rooted in a drive to connect, to express, to expand, to serve, to fulfill a desire, or to pursue a personal vision. To learn more about how to create more opportunities for yourself with assertive communication, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

Three of my favorite examples of ordinary women and moms who achieved created and sold phenomenal businesses are housewife Debbi Fields, dancer Brynn Putnan, and tax saleswoman Sara Blakely. There are many reasons why these women were immensely successful. Here are some of the most important reasons: How this young mom and housewife without any business education created a business grew into 400 stores. Debbi Fields was a young mother with no business education when she decided to open a business to sell freshly baked cookies. As most business owners, she struggled to get a loan, start selling her cookies when she didn't yet have a reputation, and manage a growing business. Yet, her passion for making the perfect cookie pushed her to ask for things, sell cookies on the streets, ask for daily feedback from customers to improve her cookies, set hourly financial goals, and adopt modern software to better manage quality in a fast-growing international business. Learn more about Mrs. Fields story here. How this pregnant dancer with no tech or business background founded and sold and sold it for $500 million in 4 years. Brynn Putnan innovated by creating a new product category within fitness: mirror screen gyms. She was a dancer, and then opened up a boutique fitness studio where she taught. After asking her customers for feedback, she learned that they wanted more mirrors. She came up with the idea of installing a screen on a mirror to work out at home. The company was called "Mirror". She pitched it to investors and got $75 million in venture funding. Many celebrities loved her product and started to post it on social media. Within 4 years of starting the company, she sold it for $500 million to Lululemon. Her idea came from asking for feedback and then focusing on the customer rather than comparison. She says, "I spend very little time comparing to competitors and much more time focused on our members' needs and how to meet them." Learn more about Brynn Putnan's story here. How this fax machine saleswoman became the youngest self-made female billionaire in the world, while raising 4 children. Sara Blakely used to sell fax machines door-to-door and became a national sales trainer. She wanted a pantyhose without the feet that didn't roll up her legs. So, she created one. She created the initial prototype and patented it, and called her company Spanx. She had several challenges, especially explaining the value of her product to men who owned factories to produce the item and who were in charge of procurement for large department store chains to sell her product. Many hung up the phone. When she pitched her product, she received "no" over and over again. However, she was not afraid of failure, because when she was growing up, her father would often ask her what she had failed in that day. She also learned to persist and that a no was a "not yet". Eventually, she signed contract several large retailers, including Bloomingdales and QVS. She expanded her business while growing her family to have four children. Learn more about Sara Blakely's story here. Expressing your passion, asking for feedback, persisting in the face of receiving "no", and thinking in terms of "not yet" can help you create opportunities and advance your dreams. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

Do you want to fast-track your career, create endless opportunities for yourself to thrive and be successful? Then this is the series for you, on creating opportunities for your career advancement and fulfillment. On this episode you'll find out more about the importance of networking. You'll also learn how Sal Khan, listed among TIME's 100 Most Influential People for 2012, created opportunities for himself. Finally, you'll learn the story of exactly how I got my first-time people manager job. Here are some of the insights you'll get: 85% of job positions are filled through networking, not online posts. This means networking is key for your career! One of my heroes, Sal Khan, accidently created the Khan Academy by helping his cousins with school. Khan Academy is an education tools non-profit that makes educational tutorials for school, college students, and young professionals. Khan was listed among TIME's 100 Most Influential People for 2012. His two TED talks together have more than 10 million views. You can watch them in the links below. TED Talk - Let's use video to reinvent education TED Talk - Let's teach for mastery – not test scores Khan Academy website I got my first team ever by asking for it during an interview. Tell people, especially those with more power, exactly what you want with absolute real conviction. Share your ideas and invite people to be part of your goals, help you pave the way, and share insights. Learn to communicate assertively at https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

In this episode international lawyer Henri Nkuepo, author of "New Immigrant Playbook - Strategies for Success in Your New Country", shares several tips that can help professionals be their best advocate in new cultures avoid big mistakes, be successful, save money, get the right advice, and much more! He says that to thrive in a new culture, you must be selective with the advice you get, reach out to more people, ask for support sooner than later, advocate for yourselves, and embrace negative feedback. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free. Get his book "New Immigrant Playbook - Strategies for Success in Your New Country" and learn more about Henri here: https://www.henrinkuepo.com​

Civil Engineer and Project Manager Joy Makumbe shares her thoughtful stories on how she got her first job managing a team, her philosophy on why she always negotiates her salary without any guilt, how she dealt with non-supportive coworkers even though she was scared of their reaction, and how she commands respects as the female joyful boss in a male-dominated industry. Read more about Joy's journey in a male dominated industry in her book TECH GIRL DIARIES. Told in a witty and fun way, Joy shares with you her joys and pains as she strives to leave her mark in the engineering field. Grab your copy here: http://www.amazon.com/dp/1779255624 To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

Have you ever wondered how ordinary people create extraordinary opportunities for themselves? Well, if you want to join that club, and you want to create more opportunities for yourself and for your career advancement, than this episode is for you. You'll learn how to assess the value of what you bring and follow through with people. You'll also see that it's not about being extroverted. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with these free resources: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

The most selfish and unreasonable request I've ever made to a boss was to ask for a loan after working only 6 months with him. Get this: to leave the company. And not just any loan. It was worth many years of my salary! You'll never know their answer to a request until you actually express your desire and invite people to support your goal. How do you find the courage to ask for what you want, even if it feels unreasonable to you? Find out in this episode. In this podcast episode, I also share how Muhammad Yunus, the pioneer of the microfinance, created massive opportunity for himself and for others. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with this free training: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

How can you increase the number of opportunities that happen for yourself? Waiting for luck to strike exactly in your direction is not going to feel thrilling or exciting. You don't need to be from a wealthy family, or to have access to money, work harder, or even have a sponsor to already start to increase your opportunities. But you need to know where opportunities come from and to do one thing often. In this podcast episode you'll learn what that secret for opportunities is. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with this free training: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

Sometimes smart and successful women get compliments they hate, like: 🤔"You don't look like an Engineer." 😡"You're a strong woman." 😖"You look like a cabin-crew." You may hate a compliment that you don't relate to. In those situations, you can do 2 things: 1. Graciously accept the compliment. 2. Express to others what you like and what you identity with more. And don't second guess what they mean with the compliment or their intention for sharing it, even if you think it is a disguised insult. Have you ever received a surprise gift that you didn't like? How did you feel when you received the gift? Do you feel angry or insulted? Probably not. You appreciated the effort and intention. 👀You don't have to agree with the gift. 👀You don't have to like the gift. 👀You don't have to be the person associated with the gift. So don't deny, ignore, reject the compliment, even if you don't like it. Graciously accept the compliment as a gift with a smile and genuine thank you. That's the topic for this podcast episode. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com.

There will always be people who try to take advantage of you and who criticize you in unreasonable ways. Instead of confronting them and getting into a war or going silent, overthinking it, and feeling bad about yourself, try these 3 tested assertiveness strategies. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle hard conversations in an assertive way, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start to learn assertive communication which helps you calmly express any thoughts, ideas, desires, feelings and boundaries in a respectful, thoughtful, and anxious-free way with this free training: https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.

Have you ever worked with someone who was rude or aggressive with you and that told you "I'm just being honest" or "That's just the way I am?" as an excuse for it? So how can you respond to someone who tries to justify why they are being rude, offensive, or insulting you? In this episode you'll discover: Questions to ask yourself about their "honesty" to decide what to do next. Powerful strategies to respond to those rude excuses in a respectful and helpful way. The 3 real reasons why people say, "I'm just being honest." Get the episode show notes here. To learn more about how to confidently and effectively handle this type of situation, visit https://www.assertiveway.com. You can also start learning assertive communication that will help handle this tricky conversations for free at https://wwwassertiveway.com/free.