Okay, maybe cruel is the wrong word. But it’s definitely kind to be assertive. Through being assertive, you’ll improve your outcomes, and help others to improve their own.
Too often, people let themselves be run over by others in the workplace, and managers are no exception. It might just be a colleague constantly asking you to do something they can do themselves. It also might be as drastic as a supplier or colleague trying to “steamroll” you into some form of agreement. Whatever the case, it’s time to get assertive.
It seems like people frequently feel that it’s inappropriate to be assertive. They worry, quite rightly, that people will complain about them “pushing back”. Fair enough, I say, given that people no doubt will. However I like to look at what is reasonable, and let that guide me. For example, it’s entirely reasonable to direct a colleague to obtain information themselves, rather than doing the hard yards yourself. If the colleague gets upset and complains, that’s unfortunate for them.
When you begin to develop your assertiveness, people will notice. There’ll be some tough times whilst they realise the dynamic has changed. Take comfort in the fact that it’s completely reasonable to be assertive, and good business practice too.