How to Be a Confident Manager

Our Executive coach Govindah Chinapiel states, “Assertiveness is a very crucial communication skill that helps you use your voice in the job.” “It demonstrates that you are self-assured in your abilities without coming across as overbearing.” You have the ability to be your own champion and demand the respect you deserve.”

Some people make the mistake of equating assertiveness with aggression. Aggressive people can come across as arrogant know-it-alls, whereas assertive people look for win-win situations.

“You have clear limits when you’re forceful, but you’re also very respectful of the person you’re dealing with—you listen to them, give them the opportunity to speak, and you don’t talk over them.” It’s easy to feel belligerent while speaking with someone who is aggressive. “An aggressive person will often deny you the opportunity to express yourself because they believe what they have to say is more essential,” Govindah explains.

Ready to get the confidence to voice your needs and opinions without being considered a jerk? With these eight strategies, you can make assertiveness a significant component in your skill set:

1. Get ready

Consider several eventualities ahead of time. Prepare a list of the points you wish to make at a crucial board meeting. Consider how you’ll handle an employee that prefers to argue rather than modify his bad habits. To be ready for the real circumstance, practice calm, confident delivery on your own or with a trusted buddy.

2. Don’t be so concerned about being liked.

People are typically afraid of losing other people’s approval if they express their genuine feelings, say “no” to requests, or provide critical comments. Being a manager, on the other hand, necessitates a focus on results rather than pleasing everyone. Rather of popularity, aim for respect, which you may earn by establishing a reputation for honesty, politeness, fairness, and high-quality work.

3. Stop apologizing for no reason.

Accept responsibility for a blunder. If you’ve been disrespectful or late, apologize. There’s no need to apologize for respectfully disagreeing or asking for what you want. Similarly, don’t feel bad about holding your employees accountable or pointing out problematic conduct. Why should you feel bad about doing your job and insisting on their doing theirs?

4. Appropriately phrase statements

Are you afraid about coming across as accusatory? Start your statements with “I,” as in “I disagree with that solution” or “I want you to be more detail-oriented.” This form expresses your viewpoint or request without the accusatory tone of statements like “Your answer is incorrect” or “You must pay attention to detail.”

5. Make a request for what you desire.

People can be their own worst enemies at times. They don’t bother building a case because they expect to fail. Even if the outcome isn’t favorable, the attempt exhibits self-advocacy and may make it easier to speak up on a regular basis.

Govindah observes, “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.” “What’s the worst that might happen?” ‘No,’ says someone. At the very least, you won’t be wasting your time worrying what will happen.”

6. Maintain your composure

Situations that necessitate boldness can also elicit strong feelings. Maintain as much calm as you can. If you yell or cry, you risk seeming out of control or manipulative. Allowing anger to build up is an excellent method to reduce the chance of an emotional outburst. Deal with issues when they arise rather than waiting for them to escalate.

7. Pay attention to your body language.

Make sure your nonverbal communication is in sync with your vocal speech. Instead of slouching, keep a decent posture. Maintain consistent eye contact. Evaluate what you see by videotaping yourself practicing assertiveness in a scenario that requires it.

8. Recognize your worth

Have you noticed how many times the word “confidence” appears in these suggestions? This is because boldness thrives in this environment. How can you expect others to appreciate your opinions and wants if you don’t respect your own?

Failure to use your voice is a disservice to the firm, as well as to your psyche and career. Managers are hired by businesses to lead and make choices. Advocating for yourself and your team can help you get the resources you need to accomplish a better job. Sharing your point of view encourages healthy debate, which is beneficial to corporate success. Consider speaking up as a valuable employee’s responsibility!

If you want to become a magnetic manager, we have a bundle of leadership courses which will help you develop the right set of competencies to become one. For more information contact us on +230 2610909 or email us at training@valdus.net