When you desire to effectively anticipate needs, you can always think DETAILS.

T – Take the Lead to be Assertive:

Effectively anticipating needs requires making a practice of being in the right mindset for the work you're presented with. This is the case wherever you find yourself: in the office, at home, planning, designing, building relationships, etc. I've found assertiveness is the mindset required for best anticipating needs. I know being assertive is often thought of in negative terms. It can mean that someone is forceful and direct - usually to a fault. But I want to take this term, flip it around, and provide a fresh understanding of what it means to be assertive. In more positive terms, to be assertive means to be characterized by bold or confident statements or behaviors - to be forthright. Taking the lead to be assertive means taking ownership of your area,  presenting action steps when needed, and getting others to buy into your vision.

OWNERSHIP

The first step in taking the lead to be assertive is taking ownership over your area of responsibility. Ownership requires both knowledge and action.

Knowledge: Be educated by more than your own opinions. Whatever it is that you do, read books on your area of responsibility, research how others do what you do, and get feedback from others who are seasoned and have lots of experience.

When I was a manager, I constantly read books, blogs, and listened to podcasts about my specific areas of responsibility. This practice had a huge impact on my personal growth and I knew that it was a habit I wanted to continue to cultivate. But, I didn't just do this for work. As I was preparing for Emet to arrive, I ordered as many books as I could about babies, what stuff to buy, why or why not to put them on a schedule, and I learned so much! Also, I spoke with other moms that I looked up to and found out what things work for them. In the end, I was able to gather information and make informed decisions about my areas of responsibility. Knowledge is important in ownership, because you want to know the ins and outs of what it is that you've been put in charge of. And in order to do your job well, you need know your job well - regardless of your field.

Action: Owning your area of responsibility while being assertive also requires action. This means that you are required take the knowledge of how to do your job and put it into practice. If you know your area of responsibility well and know how you want things to be done, you should lead by example through your actions. If it's done right, it will build the same traits in others.

PRESENTATION

There are bound to be times that your area of responsibility will require action from others in order for a goal to be met. How you present your vision will have a huge impact on the way it's received by the people who will be coming alongside of you.

Attitude:  When presenting your vision - whether it's with a boss, coworker, family member, or friend - you want to maintain a positive can-do attitude that makes people feel empowered for the work they'll be doing. You also want to present your vision in a way that keeps a balance of humility and boldness. Be open for the opinions of others and keep the door open for new ideas for how things can be done - invite feedback. But also remain bold, to make sure that your vision isn't compromised or lost along the way. 

Body Language: People can read you when you come to them with ideas and are casting vision. Present yourself in a welcoming way. Make eye contact when talking and listening. When you are listening, let your body language communicate that you are listening to what they're saying.

BUY IN 

As you can probably tell, each of these points builds off of the other. As you build ownership in your area of responsibility, and present it to those around you, you’re ultimately building buy in for your vision. This is different than just presenting people with the work to be done, or manipulating people to reach your goals. This is getting people on board with your mission, sharing your vision so that your goals become their goals. By showing people the importance of the work they’re doing and the impact it will have, and by doing it in a passionate, clear, and convincing way, you can create buy-in and accomplish your mission.

What are some positive ways you've been assertive? 

|  Credits: Author - Jacintha Payne; Photography - Calvin and Jacintha Payne and Sarah Burgess  |

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