30 BUSINESS WOMEN SCOTLAND feature
Stand your ground!
Tips for women on how to be more
assertive at work
By Professor Ewan Gillon, Chartered Psychologist and Clinical Director of First Psychology Scotland
Learning to assert oneself
appropriately in the workplace
still remains an issue for
many women. A recent poll by
Glassdoor suggests a reason
why women’s pay lags over their
career and behind men- lack
of assertiveness. The report
found that only 27 per cent of
UK women feel confident they
will receive a pay rise within the
next 12 months, compared to
40 per cent of men. Studies find
that women are more reticent
to put themselves forward for
promotion or ask for a pay rise
and are more likely to undervalue
their achievements.
So what is assertiveness and how can women
become more assertive and self-confident?
Assertiveness is about communicating with others
in an assertive way rather than an aggressive or
bullying way. Assertive communicators acknowledge
the opinions and feelings of others. They are able
to ask for what they want in a non-aggressive way
and do not allow themselves to be manipulated or
intimidated by others. Lack of assertiveness can lead
to a number of problems. You may take on too much
because you said ‘yes’ when you wanted to say ‘no’,
then feel resentful and angry; you may worry about
your previous actions; or you may experience social
isolation because you worry about social interactions
or possibly coming across negatively. Low self-esteem
and depression are also commonly linked. The good
news is that you can learn how to be more assertive.
One of the most effective ways to communicate
confidence is to use positive communication and body
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