It is not always easy to identify truly assertive behavior. This is because there’s a fine line between assertiveness and aggression. People often confuse the two.
Source: Mind Tools, August 1, 2017.
Being assertive means finding the right balance between passivity (not assertive enough) and aggression (angry or hostile behavior). It means having a strong sense of yourself and your value, and acknowledging that you deserve to get what you want. And it means standing up for yourself even in the most difficult situations.
INSIGHTS: Being assertive doesn’t mean acting in your own interest without considering other people’s rights, feelings, desires, or needs – that is aggression.