Being assertive takes a lot of practice. Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you will be at using assertive skills and the more you practice, the more comfortable and natural it will become to use assertive communication.
I own a "jig" for building frames to use in the beehive. A "jig" according to Merriam Webster is:
"Definition of JIG
I own a "jig" for building frames to use in the beehive. A "jig" according to Merriam Webster is:
"Definition of JIG
1
a : any of several lively springy dances in triple rhythmb : music to which a jig may be danced
3
a : any of several fishing devices that are jerked up and down or drawn through the waterb : a device used to maintain mechanically the correct positional relationship between a piece of work and the tool or between parts of work during assemblyc : a device in which crushed ore is concentrated or coal is cleaned by agitating in water"
It's quite difficult to build frames for the beehive. Each one takes ten nails and involves turning the frame upside down and sideways to accomplish the task. Having a device that maintains the correct position of the frame for nailing it together is a real time saver.
In 2010 I ordered what's called a "frame nailing device" from Walter T. Kelley. The device is a time saver because it holds the end bars of the frames in position so that the construction person can nail ten top bars onto the endbars at once. They you turn the device over and nail the bottom bars onto the endbars.
If you have put the endbars in upside down, then when all the frames are completely nailed you can't remove them from the jig.
And wouldn't you know it, I've lost my set of directions and I don't want to construct ten frames and have to take them apart because I put the endbars in upside down.
So Saturday, in my best assertive fashion, I called the Walter T. Kelley company and asked if they could mail or email me a set of the directions. Since in good assertive communication, one must provide the relative facts, this is what I said:
"My name is Linda Tillman and I ordered a frame nailing device from you in February 2010. I can't find my record of the purchase, but I'm sure you have it in your computer if you would look it up. I have lost my direction page and I remember that I did the first ten frames upside down and had to take them apart because I couldn't get them out of the frame nailing device. I'd like to get another copy of the directions for using this device. Could you mail them or email them to me?"
The woman I spoke to said that they could not do that on the weekend but that she would leave a note for someone to take care of it on Monday.
I worried about this and decided that I needed to continue to exercise my assertiveness. I haven't heard from Walter T. Kelley company so far this week and it's Wednesday. Anything mailed or emailed on Monday from Kentucky (where they are located) to Atlanta should already be here.
I picked up the phone this afternoon and called again. I had an identical conversation with another woman. "Of course we can send them to you," she said. "I can mail them easier than I can email them. Can I confirm your address?" I gave it to her.
We had a nice connection with each other and shared a few laughs about building frames upside down and having them stuck in the device. Because I was assertive and because we had a nice conversation with each other, I am quite confident that my directions will arrive shortly.
Little moments like this are simply small practices in being assertive. Noticing them is important because I know both that my persistence and my assertiveness are going to prevent my making a nailing error when I build 100 or so frames next weekend.
Every moment or opportunity to practice being assertive adds more confidence to your willingness to employ assertiveness the next you need it.
In 2010 I ordered what's called a "frame nailing device" from Walter T. Kelley. The device is a time saver because it holds the end bars of the frames in position so that the construction person can nail ten top bars onto the endbars at once. They you turn the device over and nail the bottom bars onto the endbars.
If you have put the endbars in upside down, then when all the frames are completely nailed you can't remove them from the jig.
And wouldn't you know it, I've lost my set of directions and I don't want to construct ten frames and have to take them apart because I put the endbars in upside down.
So Saturday, in my best assertive fashion, I called the Walter T. Kelley company and asked if they could mail or email me a set of the directions. Since in good assertive communication, one must provide the relative facts, this is what I said:
"My name is Linda Tillman and I ordered a frame nailing device from you in February 2010. I can't find my record of the purchase, but I'm sure you have it in your computer if you would look it up. I have lost my direction page and I remember that I did the first ten frames upside down and had to take them apart because I couldn't get them out of the frame nailing device. I'd like to get another copy of the directions for using this device. Could you mail them or email them to me?"
The woman I spoke to said that they could not do that on the weekend but that she would leave a note for someone to take care of it on Monday.
I worried about this and decided that I needed to continue to exercise my assertiveness. I haven't heard from Walter T. Kelley company so far this week and it's Wednesday. Anything mailed or emailed on Monday from Kentucky (where they are located) to Atlanta should already be here.
I picked up the phone this afternoon and called again. I had an identical conversation with another woman. "Of course we can send them to you," she said. "I can mail them easier than I can email them. Can I confirm your address?" I gave it to her.
We had a nice connection with each other and shared a few laughs about building frames upside down and having them stuck in the device. Because I was assertive and because we had a nice conversation with each other, I am quite confident that my directions will arrive shortly.
Little moments like this are simply small practices in being assertive. Noticing them is important because I know both that my persistence and my assertiveness are going to prevent my making a nailing error when I build 100 or so frames next weekend.
Every moment or opportunity to practice being assertive adds more confidence to your willingness to employ assertiveness the next you need it.
No comments:
Post a Comment