WHAT IT MEANS TO BE ASSERTIVE
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Active listening
Once you have said what you do or do not want, you must make
a conscious effort to listen to the other person’s response. Too
often, you might find yourself responding emotionally to what
someone said: your expectations and assumptions can distort
what you think the other person has said. So it’s important that
before you reply, you clarify what you think you heard the other
person say.
You do not have to agree with what the other person said,
just be sure that you have understood. You can check whether
or not you have understood the other person by summarising
your understanding of what was said and asking for verification.
This not only lets you know whether you have understood the ...