While being trained on the best way to conduct oneself in the workplace, we are always advised to be self-assured and carry ourselves with confidence. This type of behaviour is not something that may come naturally to many of us, especially due to our past experiences of dealing with figures of authority such as teachers and parents.  In our experience in educational institutions , we are taught the importance of subservience and respect of authority figures, however, as we progress into adulthood and the transition from student to employee takes place, being confident and clear about setting certain boundaries is an essential skill to develop. This skill is called assertiveness. Being assertive requires confidence and clarity when it comes to putting forth one’s opinion. However, it’s crucial to avoid confusing assertiveness for aggression or arrogance. While standing up for ourselves up for ourselves when needed is important, it must be

Have you ever been asked a question that has struck you as offensive, patronising or just alarmingly ignorant? We’ve all likely experienced this at some point during our personal or professional interactions and have probably responded with what we considered to be the requisite level of sarcasm and irritation. Now think about a time when you may have tentatively posed a question to someone out of genuine curiosity and were met with a harsh, condescending remark. Receiving such responses not only leaves us embarrassed and as clueless as we were before having asked the question, but also inhibits us from asking anything again in future. It’s an unproductive cycle that can easily be remedied through an altered approach and better choice of words. Something many of us fail to realise is that the tone we use to communicate our thoughts holds the power to convey much more than our words.