Assertive Leadership

Abstract

Assertive leadership underpins assertive organizations, and involves those people in leadership positions truly valuing openness, honesty, and respect of people, and expressing this through their own assertive leadership behavior. People in leadership positions have the responsibility for leading the way in creating organizations that espouse the values of integrity, inclusivity, and diversity. For them to do this, leaders within organizations need to have a strong sense of who they are, and what leading with integrity means to them. This requires bringing their “best selves” to their leadership, being aware of the impact of their behavior on others internally and externally to the organization. Assertive leadership makes for an assertive organizational culture in which people are valued for who they are and rewarded for what they do. Truly assertive leadership requires that leaders within organizations create and maintain assertive organizational cultures in which multicultural differences are respected and valued, and in which people are rewarded for what they do.