An assertive person will have an easier time in implementing and maintaining good time management routines.  How would you rate yourself in terms of assertiveness? 

Let’s explore what might happen during a day at different levels of assertiveness.

Low assertiveness:  People stop by throughout the day to chat or vent.  You never close your door because you want to be friendly.  Work stacks up on your desk throughout the day.  Even though you know there is no way you will be able to accomplish all of this, you smile and promise to do the projects.  You may even volunteer for extra committees or assignments when no one else does because you want to please others.  However it ends up that you cannot accomplish everything, so you wind up feeling guilty and berate yourself for being incapable. 

Are you demonstrating low assertiveness which equates with low self-esteem?

• You find it hard to say “No.”
• You feel guilty about not granting a request, however inconvenient or unreasonable.
• You worry about people being angry with you for not doing what they ask.
• What everyone else wants is more important than your needs.

Assertive people, in comparison, set boundaries.  They do not allow someone to railroad them into taking on an extra assignment or serving on another committee when there is no way they can do justice to that because of time constraints.  They are approachable and friendly yet are able to say “No” when the situation calls for it.

Are you assertive enough to maintain control over your day?

• You shut your door when it is necessary to concentrate, and open it when focus isn’t as critical.
• You set boundaries for how much you can do each day and when to stop work.
• You work with the team and hold up your end on projects because you have scheduled your time.
• You block off time for yourself.

Too much assertiveness, on the other hand, is called aggression.  You recognize aggression when someone is rude or bossy, doesn’t listen to anyone, and tends to be a person that we tiptoe around during the day.  This person is not a team player and generally is not an asset to the organization because others are uncomfortable or fearful around him or her.

If you are struggling with maintaining good time management skills, evaluate your level of assertiveness.  Could bolstering that improve your ability to perform, add to your productivity, and be reliable rather than snowed under and guilty?

The Whakate Club and Journal always has interesting articles.  They have just come out with “The Introspection Handbook,”  and the topics of assertiveness and aggression are broached in that.  They describe their publication as “a perfect guide to getting to know yourself better for achieving personal growth and work-life balance.  It’s not about locking you into a system. It’s about unlocking your inner resources for growing your personality, setting long lasting goals and living the life you truly want.”