Quotes About Assertiveness

At times, you have to maybe speak out of turn or say a little bit too much which upsets a few people.

You learn, right, a lot of people's problems - why they get upset, why they get down, why they turn to drink - is because they can't say one word and it's N-O, no.

In order to be who you are as a human being, you need to be willing to upset people.

It is good for a person who has suffered from acute shyness, as I had, to find that he can cause as much upset as he suffered. Better to be a brute, I thought, than to be a wallflower.

I haven't had a terrible relationship, but I've always been the type in a relationship to give too much and not speak out about problems I had or problems that were bothering me. I just wouldn't stand up for myself in any way if I was upset about something.

I really liked to perform. My mother always tells this story: I was five. They had a party, and they'd put me to bed. I heard everyone on the rooftop, and I went upstairs. No one paid any attention to me, so I took a hose and sprayed everyone. Very elegant, right? 'It's me! Look at me!' I loved the attention.

And that makes us (black women) feel like we have spokespeople, because everybody we encounter feels they have a piece of you and can tell you how to live your life

What is assertive in a man can appear abrasive in a woman, and female leaders risk appearing too feminine or not feminine enough.

The only benefit a woman can have in talking too much is defeating a man who troubles her too much.

Man has his will - but woman has her way.

I have made the choices that work best for me. I know I cannot please everyone, and that's fine.

If anyone hits me, they can expect to be hit back, and harder. I never turn the other cheek because in my experience that doesn't work.

I've learned that in order to achieve what I wanted, it made more sense to negotiate than to defend the autonomy of my work by pounding my fist on the table.

When I need to work up my nerve to write a tough column, I try to think of myself as Emma Peel in a black leather catsuit.

I like somebody who makes me laugh. He's also got to be prepared - I'm sort of a loose cannon, in a good way. I also like people who disagree with me and make me work to prove my point.

If I waited for a proper occasion to get dressed up I'd never wear half of these clothes. Put on the clothes and you make things happen to match them. It doesn't work the other way around.

You have to be stern in your voice, because if you are in there wavering and wobbling and fumbling over words, all the guys are going to be like, 'What is this guy doing in here, Coach? Get him out. Get someone else in.'

A good education gives you confidence to stick up your hand for anything - whether it is the job you want, or the bloke. And the more you stick up your hand, the better your chances are that you will get what you want.

I talk a big game because I carry a big stick.

The more powerful you become, some people especially don't like it that you're a woman. I stick up for myself.

We all stick up for ourselves and I think that's why we stand out, because we really don't care what other people think.

There are times when it's absolutely appropriate to march up to someone, stick out your hand and introduce yourself, and times when it's best to let your male cameraman or producer do the talking and hang back until you've felt out the situation.

Stick up for what you believe in and never, ever feel that you can't say something or speak your mind. I think that would be the best advice. Be strong. Be confident. That's really all you need.

I put less stock in others' opinions than my own. No one else's opinions could derail me.