This positive, practical guide will enable today's manager to achieve a powerful and flexible style. Its assertive approach enables the reader to cope constructively in a tough culture by using creative communication, strong leadership, good people management and excellent negotiating skills. The book explains what assertiveness is and how to develop essential skills through step-by-step exercises. With many helpful examples, it shows how assertiveness can improve performance in key management areas including: -power broking meetings -communicating difficult decisions -appraisal -defusing conflict -motivation and leadership -working across cultures This hands-on approach is particularly valuable in demonstrating how assertiveness can help manage high stress or high emotion situations. The guide goes on to deal with taking a lead in implementing equal opportunities and assertiveness when working with foreign colleagues and clients.