Customer Reviews

Civilized Assertiveness for Women: Communication with Backbone...not Bite

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I knew I needed to set limits with other people, but I didn't have the words. This book does. It gives a few phrases that work everywhere with everyone, as well as other phrases to use with bosses vs. colleagues, or with coworkers vs. family and friends. It's not your average "self-help" book -- it's down to earth and truly useful. The author explains how women are raised to not stand up for themselves and then show how we can do it without getting the backlash we fear or expect. It's a great book.

This is a guide for not only women in the workplace but women in their personal lives. We have been preconditioned to act and talk in specific way. This book easily guides you into making sound decisions on choices of responses to difficult situations. It is easy to follow and helps you speak what is truly on your mind without being cruel. It is all about being direct and getting what you want!!

I found this book very enlightening. The author gives you practical examples that you can use in your workplace, and by just using them you engage in better communication that empowers you. It gives you an understaning of men and the techniques they have been taught from childhood to use, and how we can work with them to assert what we need.
I would highly recommend this book - and I will let it speak for itself when you buy it!

Focuses too much on outdated gender issues. As a professional woman nearing 30, I'm not fighting for a piece of the pie run by good old boys who want to keep me down, I'm trying to overcome inclinations to be passive - with women, men, even just with myself - and learn techniques for communicating directly and clearly instead of trying to handle everything all the time or try to make everyone else's life easier at the expense of my own. This book is not helpful to someone like me. It's also very repetitive, and too much loves its own branding, rubbing the reader's nose in what "Civilized Assertiveness" means, seemingly as an attempt at product marketing. I just want some straight tools, tips, exercises for making changes, and this book is not that.

This book presents many truths in the beginning that a woman innately knows, but cannot put her finger on to point out to others. The author has tremendous insight. I find it extremely helpful in pointing out the difference between aggressive and assertive behaviours and how to get your point across. There are dialogues and exercises and the "Personal Bill of Rights." In addition, there are many suggestions for bringing your point across in a non-apologetic manner, which adds strength to your statements. Sometimes it is just recognizing small little things like this that make it possible to make big changes. I have bought several copies for other professional women I know, and they all like it.

Excellent information that I applied to balance necessary assertiveness in business without compromising my natural personality. An easy read with specific real-world examples. I've received positive comments from other managers since reading & applying this knowledge.

I liked this book because it was written by a woman and gave a woman's perspective on things. It had a little bit different twist to assertiveness training. The book was easy to read, direct and to the point, and easy to apply the recommendations.

I read this book straight through the first time and found it a great help in dealing with people at work as well in my personal life. Now, I re-read it at times in order to effectively deal with specific situations that call for assertive communication with others. Dr. McClure has broken down the elements of communication by teaching the reader the importance of listening and processing in order to speak to be heard. She has done this through examples in her book by utilizing dialogs, graphs and point-by-point discussions. Personally, I have found Dr. McClure's book to be extremely effective in a myriad of situations. I whole-heartedly recommend this book for women in all walks of life, both professionally and personally who strive to be effective communicators.

This book really helped a lot, made a huge difference in our relationship! I highly recommend it!

To be successful your bark needs to be aligned with your bite. I liked this book, but it flanneled around the key truths. My book is better. Of course I am biased, I am like that. Secret Habits of Successful [...] is the best self-help book for people who are too nice.