5 Simple Ways to Become More Assertive

(Slight revision to an article by Michael Lee) (Image Source)

Being assertive comes with a lot of benefits. You become the center of attention. Your ideas get heard, and you get what you want more often.

Unfortunately, assertiveness doesn’t come naturally to everybody. A lot of people actually grow up withdrawn, insecure and unmotivated.

Here are a few simple actions you can take to become more assertive:

1) Try New Things.

Try new things that you never thought you’d ever do. No second thoughts. No hesitation. Don’t give yourself time to be antsy about it. Sometimes, you just have to take a giant leap…

Go biking, rock climbing or even bungee jumping. Not only does it give you something to talk about, it also shows how much more you can do when you make a decision to do it.

2) Learn Something New.

Learning something new gives you the confidence to go after your goals and ambitions. It doesn’t have to be something big…

Take a cooking class, learn to play the guitar, learn Spanish online, you get the idea.

3) Make New Friends.

One of the best ways to become more assertive is to broaden your social circle. Making new friends will definitely boost your assertiveness level.

Of course, going up to a total stranger can be very intimidating (and dangerous?) so why don’t you start by meeting up with friends of friends? Socializing with a different set of peers can help you gauge just where you are in the assertiveness scale.

4) Dress to Impress.

One great way to become more assertive is to play the part, and one simple way to do that is to dress like it…

Make the effort to dress a little better the next time you go out. Even if you don’t feel assertive yet, you can at least fake it until you make it.

5) Choose Your Role Model.

Having a role model can help you become more assertive. After all, you’re looking at someone who already knows what it feels like to go through what you’re going through. Seeing how successful that person is right now can greatly motivate you.

These are just a few simple ways for you to become more assertive. Whether you follow them or not depends on how ready you are to change and improve yourself. The thought of putting yourself out there can be a little daunting, of course, but keep in mind that bravery is not the absence of fear. It is facing life head on despite the fear.