Being Assertive instead of Being Aggressive at Work Essay

Being Assertive instead of Being Aggressive at Work - Essay Example When going for a career start, it is important to understand the present day workplace. The 21st-century workplace is diverse in terms of culture, race, and gender; it is global. Employees must be prepared to deal with people from any part of the world confidently and without bias. One should enter a career with a positive attitude towards teamwork. Organizational success depends on teamwork and communication is the key to a good team spirit development. Career development in the world of new technology depends on one’s ability to adapt to the new technology. All individuals preparing for any career should keep the above points in mind in order to become successful professionals. INTRODUCTION Workplace environment greatly affects the well being, health, productivity and motivation to work in the employees (Jones, 2001). The workplace environment is a factor in the behavior of employees, therefore, it is up to them to maintain a healthy workplace environment. According to (Scot t & Judge, 2006), the personal traits and the affective states experiences by people in organizational setups determine the quality of workplace atmosphere. To play their role in contributing towards a healthy workplace environment, one should enter any career after being well prepared to deal with the challenges of a workplace (Jones. 2001). Self-mastery, conquering control on persona; traits via personal and independent victories of self-control is basic and very important if one wants to reach the level of interdependence in an organization (Covey, 1989). 1. BEING ASSERTIVE INSTEAD OF AGGRESSIVE AT WORK Assertiveness is the key to respectful survival in the workplace (Weinberg & Cooper, 2007). Assertiveness is sometimes confused with aggressiveness. In reality, there is a difference between the two. Aggression refers to pushing others to get what one wants, while assertiveness means to stand up for one’s rights, still respecting the other’s point of view. Assertiven ess is a way of communicating what one wants respectfully but firmly (Sparks, et al; 2001). According to one study by Rabin & Zelner (1992), assertiveness is a major contributing factor in job satisfaction. Training in assertiveness can not only help in enhancing work productivity of an employee but can also contribute towards a successful career (Rabin & Zelner, 1992). Though the line separating aggressiveness and assertiveness may be thin, the consequential implications of both behaviors are contrasting. The result of aggression is usually negative feelings in others and both parties not getting what they want while assertion leads to what one wants without conflict and in such a way that the other party does not feel defeated (Glomb, 2002). 2. BEING PROACTIVE IN CAREER According to Covey (1989), change always originates from within; so it is best to identify what one can do instead of attempting to do whatever comes in one’s way. A proactive disposition, according to Bandu ra (2001; cited in Stadtler, et al, 2010) refers to bring change and complete tasks by one’s actions.