Why It's Important to Be Assertive in the Aggressive World of Healthcare

By Beth Boynton

Do you ever wonder why passive-aggressive,  passive, and even aggressive behaviors  are so common in healthcare or politics?

Assertiveness involves relationships, cultures, and communication skills.

Trying to be assertive in a culture where aggression is dominant or with a person who is aggressive is very tricky.  Since assertiveness means you respect  and take care of your own needs as well as others, when it isn’t mutual it doesn’t work so well.

A parable that helps to explore this concept

What do you do if you knock on a door and no one answers?  (Assume you can hear voices behind the door.)

Knocking louder seems like a natural response.  But what if still, no one answers?  Then what do you do?

• Pound on the door louder and louder until you hurt your hand or break the door down? (Aggressive?)
• Give up and walk away? (Passive?)
• Walk away and start a rumor about the person you were trying to reach? (Passive-aggressive?)

Takeaways

• When assertiveness is not met with listening, aggressive, passive-aggressive, and/or passive behaviors become alternative ways of being heard.
• Listening is one of the most effective ways to teach assertiveness and one of the most important things leaders can do build a culture of safety in healthcare or a respectful dialogues in politics.
• Medical Improv is one of the most effective ways to develop listening skills like empathy!

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