Leadership and assertiveness are not the same. They’re related, but they differ in fundamental ways.

One of the key messages we teach in assertiveness training is that it’s not about being aggressive. The most common mistake people make is that they use an aggressive style when they’re trying to be assertive. Assertiveness is an important skill to have. You are assertive when you politely and firmly state what you want, need, or believe instead of being aggressive or passive.

Assertiveness is the ability to be confident and express your thoughts and feelings. This can involve saying “no” when you want to say “no,” or agreeing with someone when you want to agree with them. You always have a right to assert yourself, even if it means making people angry or hurting their feelings.

Indian Freedom fighters using nonviolence were an example of assertive leadership. They were confident when saying “No” to British Rule.