Assertiveness
“How would you describe your assertiveness?”
■“I have been able to step up to the plate on more than one
occasion when no one else would lead a project. I guess
you could consider that initiative as well. When I see that
there is a problem and that I can solve that problem, I
move forward. I am careful to work with the team if that is
the situation that I am in.”
■“My open communication style has allowed me to be
assertive on several occasions when things became tense
among employees or when there was a problem between
another employee and me. I firmly believe that talking
something through in a nonconfrontational style is the
best solution most of the time.”
■“At my last company I was promoted to lead person
because of my ability to speak up when I saw a problem
and to suggest a solution whenever I had one. I have
learned to speak up when I see a more efficient way of
doing things, as long as I am not stepping on someone
else’s toes.”
“Tell me about a time when you had to assert
yourself in a difficult situation?”
■“There was a woman in my last company who began to be
curt to not only me but to the other members of the team.
I finally asked her if I could speak with her. At first she
denied that she had any issues with anyone, but because I
listened and didn’t judge her, she eventually opened up
and told me that she was having personal problems and
that she was sorry that she was imposing her problems
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