# 403 | How to be assertive without being an a-hole

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-speaking-up-743556/403-how-to-be-assertive-without-being-an-a-hole
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-speaking-up-743556/403-how-to-be-assertive-without-being-an-a-hole.md
Podcast: [The Art of Speaking Up](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-art-of-speaking-up-743556)
Published: 2026-02-23T23:32:11+00:00
Episode link: https://jessicanguzik.podbean.com/e/403-how-to-be-assertive-without-being-aggressive-3-tactics-that-actually-feel-good/
Audio file: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/zib5g8s2d9y26gx9/Assertive_not_Aggressive_Mp3acudg.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-art-of-speaking-up-743556/episodes/403-how-to-be-assertive-without-being-an-a-hole
Duration seconds: 1229

## Resource

Being assertive doesn't mean being pushy, aggressive, or domineering - but many corporate environments only show you that one style of leadership. In this episode, I teach you the two opposing styles of assertiveness: Pushing Down vs. Lifting Up. One erodes trust and damages your reputation over time. The other builds respect, inspires teams, and gets people to genuinely want to follow your lead - this is what I’m teaching you to do. You'll learn: Why "assertive" doesn't have to mean "aggressive" The Push Down vs. Lift Up framework for assertive leadership Why the aggressive style backfires (even for geniuses like Steve Jobs) 3 practical tactics to be assertive in a way that lifts others up How to inspire buy-in without forcing your ideas on people Why this style of assertiveness feels better for you AND your stakeholders Links: Free Assertiveness ebook: https://www.assertivenessebook.com/ Art of Speaking Up Academy waitlist: https://jessguzikcoaching.com/academy/

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## Transcript

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