Assertiveness is one of the most important skills you can acquire. As you climb the career ladder, you need to be able to clearly communicate your needs, thoughts, and ideas to initiate change of any kind. However, many people struggle to strike the right balance in difficult conversations—opting for either avoidance or more aggressive tendencies. Some studies indicate that while men are praised for their assertiveness or decisive opinions, women are often interpreted as hostile or even unlikeable for demonstrating similar traits. In this session, you will uncover what it truly means to be assertive and how to communicate in an assertive manner to ensure that you are seen as a trusted advisor.