Stepping up and speaking out

Abstract

Are you able to say 'no' to people when you need to, or to ask for what you want without anxiety? Do you sometimes feel steam-rollered by pushy clients or find that people don't do what you ask them? Would you like to feel more confident, more of the time? Confidence and assertiveness are essential to feeling in control and being effective both at work and in our personal lives. They go hand in hand; if we lack confidence in ourselves we are unable to be assertive and this can not only hold us back, but further damage our selfbelief, creating a negative spiral. Confidence comes from knowing our strengths and capabilities, focusing on the outcome that we want to achieve and being able to recognize the challenges that we may face. It requires us to be realistic in the expectations we set ourselves and others. Confidence is not about always knowing the answer or how to fix every problem, it's about believing that you have the ability to handle whatever comes up. Our ability to be assertive is directly related to how we handle conflict; our so-called 'fight, flight or freeze and play dead' response. Some people lack confidence and self-esteem, not believing that they have anything to offer and that everyone else is always better. This leads to overly passive behaviour and avoidance of conflict. Others are more aggressive, focusing on their own needs and unaware of the impact that they are having on others. Passive-aggressive people are not open about how they feel, looking after their own interests but avoiding confrontation. Many people confuse assertiveness with aggression, often because the more aggressive people are the ones that seem to get their own way, although often only in the short term. Being assertive, however, is about being open and honest about what what's important to you and what your values are and then communicating this confidently and clearly. It requires us to respect the values and needs of others whilst knowing that we are not responsible for how they respond. Assertiveness allows us to create choice, both for ourselves and other people, and encourages collaboration towards a successful outcome.

Introduction to the Special Issue

“…Furthermore, walking in time and place can mean disruptions in the interview process; this can be helpful for a biographical interview but may also challenge the ethics/ethical practice of a research project depending on the situation. Walking together may elicit talk that the co-walker may not have said in different circumstances, as walking together creates a kind of intimacy that can raise ethical issues (see for example Erel et al 2019, Erel et al 2022). This special issue explores these questions and, in doing so, highlights the possibilities as well as challenges of using walking methodologies, and seeks to make a contribution to current debates surrounding the sensory and mobile turns and the possibilities of co-production in social research.…”