“Assertiveness is not what you do, it’s who you are!” ― Shakti Gawain

9 Ways To Be More Assertive When You’re Shy

1. Learn About Confidence and Assertiveness

The first step is to learn as much as you can about the process of being assertive.

This blog post is a great place to start, but if you’re really serious about standing up for yourself, and getting everything you deserve out of life, I highly recommend checking out this audio on the topic. 

It’s created by a renowned coach Steve Jones who gives strategies that you can use right away so you can have extreme confidence in minutes a day.

Get your copy today and listen while cooking, running errands or anything really.

That way the content and lessons will have a higher chance of working!

Grab your copy now for supreme confidence <<

2. Practice Being Assertive

The brain cannot differentiate between real or imagined. So you can use visualization to practice so that when you find yourself in specific situations, you can fall back on the way you visualized it.

You can practice by doing small things that helps you to be more assertive, such as practicing saying no. Whenever you want to be better at something, the best thing you can do is practice.

3. Take Small Steps of Courage

You don’t really need to be brave for very long to speak up for yourself.

You simply need a few seconds of courage to stand up and say what you wanted to say calmly, clearly, and directly.

When the time comes to be assertive, take a deep breath, and go all in!

4. Choose Your Communication Channel Wisely

When you have something to say that is important to you think about your audience. What is the best way for them to receive the information from you?

Is it best heard in a letter or an email?

How about a text?… In person?

It’s important to think about what you want to say and how you want to say it before doing it.

5. Acting Confident Will Help You Be More Assertive

You likely heard the adage to “fake it until you make it” and there is a lot of truth in that advice.

We are not all born confident but we can learn.  However, don’t think that you’re being dishonest when you act confident, even if you don’t fully feel it right away.

Most people aren’t really going to know you’re nervous. Just speak up anyway. The more you practice the more it’ll feel natural.

6. Remember to Breathe

When you are in any situation, remember to breathe. This will help keep you calm to speak the words you want to say — and be heard.

7. Make Eye Contact with People

A lot of people have issues with eye contact, but they are completely honest people. Our eyes say a lot and making eye contact is a clear sign of confidence.

It’s important to understand that most people in the USA, at least find it off-putting if you don’t make eye contact. Remember not to stare but and it’s okay to blink. This will soon become second nature.

8 Know That Saying No is Okay

Learning to say no is part of being assertive.

If you’re a people pleaser, it’s easy to get into the habit of always saying yes and being that quiet person that everyone counts on.

Try saying no to some of the things you don’t want to do or really don’t have time to do as practice.

9. Learn to Make “I” Statements

Learning to say ‘I’ is empowering. It sends a clear message that what you say is what you mean. There is nothing wishy-washy when saying I.

I think, and I feel are  the ways you can express yourself to others in a way that makes them hear you.

Concluding How to be Assertive

Put these tips on how to be assertive into practice and notice that people listen to you more attentively.

However, if your issue is genuinely shyness, lack of confidence or about being an introvert, practicing will help you become more assertive.

To get past assertiveness  consider hiring a life coach or investing in a good online program will help boost confidence and a break through for an assertive new you.