Definition
Assertive Communication
The middle path between passive communication (avoiding conflict, not expressing needs, hoping others will infer what you want) and aggressive communication (attacking the person, using blame, creating psychological threat). Assertive communication is firm, direct, explicit about needs and consequences, and respectful of the other person's perspective simultaneously. The NVC framework is one structured approach for achieving assertive communication in high-stakes conversations. Most technically skilled founders default to one extreme — either conflict avoidance or bluntness — and miss the assertive middle path.
From the episode “The Hidden Leadership Gap”Hear it on the podcast1 episode
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