Leadership: assertiveness needs to be just right

It seems that in leadership the real art is getting your assertiveness right: it's as bad to be too assertive as not enough:

Overall, more than half of the descriptions of weaknesses made clear references to assertiveness. Of these comments, 48 percent suggested too much assertiveness and the remainder described too little.

Perhaps there's no real surprise in that, on reflection. But it does point up how precarious it can be, a real balancing act which only looks easy if you're getting it right. It does suggest, though that the servant model is good provided that some of what is offered as service is a bit of forcefulness at the right time in the right way.

ScienceDaily: What Makes A Good Leader: The Assertiveness Quotient: Filed in: psychology, leadership, assertiveness