Assertive communication involves being clear, direct, and honest. When you’re assertive, you express your thoughts and communicate your needs in a way that’s respectful of others. This allows you to set effective boundaries and stand up for yourself. However, assertiveness is not the same as aggression. Aggressive communication often involves forcing your opinions and beliefs on others or dominating a conversation. Like any type of effective communication, assertive communication is focused more on understanding the other person rather than winning an argument.