The Assertive Manager

To be an assertive manager, you need to learn how to deal with emotions. If you are promoted from within and are now supervising people who were co-workers, meet with each one about how they feel about supporting you. Be sincere and follow through on any promises you make, such as supporting tuition assistance applications or providing training.

Use the power of your voice effectively. If you have problems with vocal inflection, tone or volume, work on this consciously. One way to sound more authoritative–and calm– is to lower the pitch of your voice. You can accomplish this with practice and feedback from a friend. Some women have a tendency to talk in a higher-pitched voice when stressed. You need not yell to be authoritative. After you have practiced, try it on your co-workers. At first, they may look at you funny, but they will respond. Use correct diction. Don’t succumb to profanity because it seems to be more effective. The shock value is not a positive way to influence behavior, and will have negative consequences on how others perceive you. Get to know the people you work with, their interests, the names of their spouses, children and pets. If you are terrible with names, work on this if you can.

Also, understand what makes each person tick. Are they motivated by praise or money or just getting attention from others? Figure this out and use this information wisely when it comes time to address issues and dispense reprimands. Be clear and concise about what you need from each person, what the business priorities are and who will handle which tasks. Use project management tools to divvy up the work if needed and listen to how people respond to their assignments. Be fair, listen and encourage questions before the group embarks on a project or task. Be positive and self-motivated. There is nothing more authoritative than getting right in and showing you are willing to help or get your hands dirty if needed. Make a point of taking on a task that is seen by the group as undesirable, like spending a few hours doing cold calls or editing tedious reports. Make sure they know you are willing to do whatever it takes for the team to succeed. Don’t back down unless you realize you are wrong. And if you do, admit it and move on to the next thing as soon as possible. Being wishy-washy is the worst thing you can do as a leader or manager. Take control and do what you think is right. Others will follow your example.