TOPIC 3: Creating respectful relationships

Worksheet 3.3 Being assertive

Assertiveness is:
 expressing your opinions, needs and feelings without ignoring or hurting the opinions, needs and
feelings of others
 communicating what you want in a clear fashion, respecting your own rights and beliefs, and those of
others
 standing up for your right to be treated fairly but in a respectful and constructive way
 not being aggressive and getting your own way.
Asserting yourself means:
 you can say ‘yes’ when you mean it and ‘no’ when you mean it
 you can communicate how you are feeling in a calm and composed manner
 you feel good about yourself
 you feel entitled to express how you feel
 conflict won’t stop you from speaking up.
1. What is assertiveness? Discuss this with the person next to you and come up with your own
definition.
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2. Why is it important to be assertive?
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3. In what situations are you more likely to be assertive then others?
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4. Explain the difference between assertive, passive and aggressive.
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 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 1

 Worksheet 3.3

5. Give an example of each of the following terms using the same scenario.
Passive:
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Assertive:
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Aggressive:
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 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd 2