The assertive person takes responsibility for his or her own behavior but does not take responsibility for the behavior of others or for situations which are beyond his or her control. To feel responsible for things beyond your control leads to unnecessary feelings of guilt. Direct eye contact is assertive and suggests sincerity, self-confidence and the expectation that others will listen. An assertive person wants to be heard. An assertive person does not allow status to intimidate him or her.
Good posture communicates a positive self-image.
When posture is limited by a disability, good eye contact and facial expression can be used to express a positive self-image. The assertive person works to get his or her needs met and does not let situations build to the point of crisis. The assertive person is able to ask for help without feeling dependent because he or she maintains a strong sense of self worth and self-respect. Telling someone off is an angry, aggressive response The assertive person would state that he or she is irritated by the unfairness and ask the person to move to the end of the line. Click here to go to the Assertiveness Skills Builder page National Institutes of Health Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Consensus Statement , October 1998.