To be successful, there will be times when you will need to assert yourself. Plain and simple.

This month, we are devoting our posts, articles, and podcasts to this subject, because the ability to assert yourself can be directly related to the success you want to achieve for your business, organization, family, and yourself.

There is a great deal of confusion about the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness, and even passivity.

Assertiveness is once again about setting and honoring boundaries. From one side, because most of us don't like the idea of stepping on or hurting others, we may tend to remain quiet or more passive about the issue at hand. To the other extreme, many times when people decide to assert themselves, they take it too far to the point that the communication or behavior is aggressive. The line can tip either way.

Our challenge is to understand what assertiveness is, and to keep it in that lane.

My take on selecting the "assertive route" is to come at it from a point of respect for all sides of the conversation. This means honoring and respecting the other party. And even more, it means honoring and respecting yourself.

When you honor and respect yourself, you can avoid the passive route of not stating your thoughts, feelings, needs, or opinions. When you respect others, you avoid the need to win at the cost of another, to disparage the other side, or to demand rather than discuss.

Granted, it can be a fine line, but for you to get what you want, the key is to be able to state and honor, respectfully and caringly, your position. Follow our posts this month, and continue reading our monthly newsletter below, for more tips and a half price offer.

LiveStrong.com: Aggressive Behavior vs Assertive Behavior (20 second read)

Office Dynamics: Assertive vs Aggressive (20 second read)

When it comes to writing email messages, and wanting to be assertive rather than aggressive, my first word to you is "CAUTION!"

Because most of the communication between two people is lost in an email message, no body language, no voice inflection, no eye contact, there is an inherent risk that even an assertive message could be misinterpreted. So, my first line of encouragement is that if there is any question in your mind, pick up the phone or visit to discuss the issue.

When that is not available, here is a quick tip that you might consider. Assertive communications use the "I" word, aggressive communications many times use the word, "you." Think about it.

"Learn to be assertive without anger attached to it." — Nikki Rowe

"I never tolerate disrespect or betrayal" — S.R. Crawford

"Don't ever feel bad for making a decision about your own life that upsets other people. You are not responsible for their happiness. You're responsible for your own happiness. Anyone who wants you to live in misery for their happiness should not be in your life anyway." — Isaiah Hankel

This month, promise yourself you will stay in the "assertive Lane." Avoid being passive when you have a need, opinion, concern. Take action to assert yourself. And on the other side, avoid being aggressive and attacking to achieve your results. Asserting assures success.