Assertiveness: a guide for the foundation year doctor

Abstract

Assertiveness (Lindsay, 2002) is an important tool if used appropriately at the right time and in the right manner. It is an aspect of communication that reflects confidence, faith and leadership attitude. Being assertive is a skill attained with time, experience and technique. Quite often, what you may think of as being assertive could be misinterpreted by others as being aggressive – there is a very thin demarcation between the two. Frequently, people expect foundation doctors beginning their careers to be passive and submissive, lacking experience and confidence.