Executive Education White Paper
Assertiveness: an essential soft skill for being assertive and improving your communication skills
Interview with Guénaëlle BonnafouxCoach and lecturer at ESCP Executive Education
Assertiveness is the ability to tell others what you think, want and feel while respecting what the other person thinks, wants and feels.
Introduced in the 20th century—the name comes from the English word ‘to assert’—and often attributed to the American psychologist Andrew Salter, this concept has become a skill increasingly sought after by employers and even mentioned in job descriptions.
Assertiveness is particularly useful for managers because it makes communication easier, encourages team commitment and creates a climate of trust in the workplace. However, it also works the other way: employees vis-à-vis their managers. Assertiveness helps to create healthy and productive relationships and working environments.
A helpful skill at work and in private life, assertiveness can be acquired and practised, as Guénaëlle Bonnafoux, a coach specialising in the subject and a lecturer in the Executive Education programmes at ESCP Business School, explains.
This white paper is part of a series entitled “Leaders for the Future”, produced by ESCP Business School Executive Education, that addresses the needs of companies and professionals so that they can thrive in the face of challenges and a rapidly shifting business landscape.
Guénaëlle Bonnafoux
A certified DISC and FORCES MOTRICES practitioner in 2023 and holder of a master's degree in coaching practices (Université Paris 8), Guénaëlle Bonnafoux is a professional coach who has worked in companies, training organisations, and schools, including ESCP Business School, for many years. She specialises in assertiveness, self-confidence, and team cohesion.
