assertiveness
UK: əˈsɜːtɪvnəs | US: əˈsɜːrtɪvnəs
n. the quality of being self-assured and confident without being aggressive
The word "assertiveness" combines "assertive," derived from the Latin assertus (past participle of asserere, meaning "to claim or maintain"), with the suffix "-ness," which forms abstract nouns indicating a state or quality. The root asserere itself breaks down into ad- (to) + serere (to join or bind), reflecting the idea of firmly stating one's position. Over time, "assertive" evolved in English to describe confident self-expression, and "-ness" was added to nominalize the trait.
Her assertiveness in meetings earned her respect from colleagues.
The training program aims to develop assertiveness in shy individuals.
Assertiveness is key to effective communication without dominance.
He struggled with assertiveness but improved through practice.
The book teaches techniques to balance assertiveness and empathy.