Assertive people seldom use the phrase “I think.” Instead, they let their thoughts stand on their own merit. Stating “My team has had a great idea for the upcoming product launch” instils much more confidence than “I think my team has had a great idea for the upcoming product launch.” It seems like such a simple adjustment, but the latter sentence implies that the idea is so good that you don’t need to qualify it or forestall objections with “I think.” You can also apply this rule to written communication. The next time you write an email or even a text message, remove any instances of “I think” before sending it. If the recipient needs to clarify any details, trust that they will come back to you with their own questions. Letting your ideas stand alone is not a sign of arrogance. It merely suggests that you have given the matter sufficient thought and come to a solid conclusion. So if you want to sound confident and secure in your own judgement, just remove those two little words from your vocabulary. It may feel uncomfortable at first to sound more sure of yourself, but you will quickly become accustomed to communicating your ideas in a more assertive manner. This will encourage others to think of you as a strong leader and person of integrity and self-belief.
