Some people seem to effortlessly command respect at work while others struggle to be taken seriously. Why? It often comes down to how assertive and authoritative you are. Understanding what it means ...

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Being a doormat is not a personality trait—it’s a pattern. It’s what happens when you’re trained to put everyone else’s comfort before your own, when “no” feels like a four-letter word, and when you ...

Drawing the line between aggressiveness and assertiveness is always a difficult proposition, whether you're managing a team or trying to advance in your career. When you must take a stand, you may ...

It’s only a matter of time before a life-long people pleaser wakes up and cries, “Enough is enough!” Instead of going with the flow to be as nice as possible, there’s often a tipping point when you ...

A reader feels overlooked and under-appreciated. David Robson explains why assertiveness is a keystone of good mental health ...

Dear Eric: All my life, I have taken pride in being the peacekeeper, the one who smooths over tension, avoids conflict and tries to make sure everyone feels heard. I have always believed that kindness ...

A new college graduate reported for work on the first day and looked forward to meeting with her boss. She asked if she could speak first and proceeded to inform the boss that she would not be working ...

Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Design by Evelyn Mousigian. Everyone is familiar with the concept of assertiveness: the sweet spot ...