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A Woman in Your Own Right: The Art of Assertive, Clear and Honest Communication
’The classic assertiveness bible’
RHIANNON LUCY COSSLETT, GUARDIAN ’This advice is even more pertinent today'
LINDA KELSEY, DAILY MAIL –––––––––––– Do you sometimes struggle to state what you want (or don’t want)? Do tricky conversations go wrong? Does it at times seem easier to suffer in silence? This book has the solutions you need. Despite recent advances in gender equality in education, the workplace and the home, in practice many women and girls still find it a challenge to speak up and be heard. Assertiveness – defined by psychologist and assertiveness trainer Anne Dickson as clear, honest and direct communication – is an art, which can be learned. Instead of being governed by the desire to please – the Compassion Trap – assertiveness teaches us to manage our feelings, without blaming others. In her pioneering handbook, now fully updated to mark its 40 th anniversary, Dickson draws on her long experience of in-person training to give all give all women the tools we need to assert what we feel and want, manage difficult conversations, avoid being sidetracked by culturally learned behaviours, say ‘No’, and find self-acceptance. –––––––––––– *MORE PRAISE FOR A WOMAN IN YOUR OWN RIGHT * ’As important as it ever was'
ANGELA NEUSTATTER ’The bible for anyone who wants to get their voice heard… invaluable'
LESLEY GARNER
RHIANNON LUCY COSSLETT, GUARDIAN ’This advice is even more pertinent today'
LINDA KELSEY, DAILY MAIL –––––––––––– Do you sometimes struggle to state what you want (or don’t want)? Do tricky conversations go wrong? Does it at times seem easier to suffer in silence? This book has the solutions you need. Despite recent advances in gender equality in education, the workplace and the home, in practice many women and girls still find it a challenge to speak up and be heard. Assertiveness – defined by psychologist and assertiveness trainer Anne Dickson as clear, honest and direct communication – is an art, which can be learned. Instead of being governed by the desire to please – the Compassion Trap – assertiveness teaches us to manage our feelings, without blaming others. In her pioneering handbook, now fully updated to mark its 40 th anniversary, Dickson draws on her long experience of in-person training to give all give all women the tools we need to assert what we feel and want, manage difficult conversations, avoid being sidetracked by culturally learned behaviours, say ‘No’, and find self-acceptance. –––––––––––– *MORE PRAISE FOR A WOMAN IN YOUR OWN RIGHT * ’As important as it ever was'
ANGELA NEUSTATTER ’The bible for anyone who wants to get their voice heard… invaluable'
LESLEY GARNER
Paperback
Published March 3, 2022
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About the author
Anne Dickson
42 books12 followers I am a psychologist by profession and have for over three decades been working as a trainer and educator. To those who already know of my work through reading one of my books or attending a workshop or lecture, a warm welcome too.
My commitment and passion have always been to equality, honesty and nonaggression: through both the facilitation of classes, workshops and ongoing courses in an extraordinarily diverse range of contexts and cultures and also through my books, I have attempted to teach and encourage others who are similarly interested in upholding these same values.
The key to what I do - and what I have always done - is authentic communication as the basis of sincere relationship whether that is with our nearest and dearest, with colleagues, with friends or with those we hardly know. Taking responsibility for what we want (or don't want) and for how we express ourselves requires sensitivity to the requirements of love for oneself and others. How do we balance these needs? How do we learn to set limits and say 'no' in unclear relationships? Are we happy with the quality of our relationships? Which people do we really want around us? How can we handle conflict and tension in ways that respect different viewpoints and needs instead of solely aiming for a win/lose outcome? How do we break out of old habits of fear and conditioning and learn to find our real inner voice?
My personal and professional commitment though goes far beyond the limits of self-development for the sake of self-development. Equality, honesty and nonaggression stand in stark contrast to prevailing cultural norms of individualism, competition, dishonesty and aggression. Setting up this website is an attempt to reach out and establish contact with others who also find it hard to maintain these values in today's world: who are keen to promote equality and compassion and an alternative to those models of power we see all around us which continue to do untold harm at every level of existence.
My commitment and passion have always been to equality, honesty and nonaggression: through both the facilitation of classes, workshops and ongoing courses in an extraordinarily diverse range of contexts and cultures and also through my books, I have attempted to teach and encourage others who are similarly interested in upholding these same values.
The key to what I do - and what I have always done - is authentic communication as the basis of sincere relationship whether that is with our nearest and dearest, with colleagues, with friends or with those we hardly know. Taking responsibility for what we want (or don't want) and for how we express ourselves requires sensitivity to the requirements of love for oneself and others. How do we balance these needs? How do we learn to set limits and say 'no' in unclear relationships? Are we happy with the quality of our relationships? Which people do we really want around us? How can we handle conflict and tension in ways that respect different viewpoints and needs instead of solely aiming for a win/lose outcome? How do we break out of old habits of fear and conditioning and learn to find our real inner voice?
My personal and professional commitment though goes far beyond the limits of self-development for the sake of self-development. Equality, honesty and nonaggression stand in stark contrast to prevailing cultural norms of individualism, competition, dishonesty and aggression. Setting up this website is an attempt to reach out and establish contact with others who also find it hard to maintain these values in today's world: who are keen to promote equality and compassion and an alternative to those models of power we see all around us which continue to do untold harm at every level of existence.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 9, 2025
As a serial people pleaser, I enjoyed reading this and took a few things from it. Was it ground breaking? Probably not, but the idea that assertiveness is a fine line and tone and body language impact how your message comes across seems important.
August 23, 2025
An incredible book that helps women to be assertive in a compassionate way.
This book gives challenging scenes and scenarios, to help you. It also highlights the changes over the last four decades and how the world has moved on. And how women still battle with self-image.
I've listened to this book twice and it'll be one I'll refer back to.
Using the tips and techniques has helped me communicate effectively to others.
I highly recommend.
This book gives challenging scenes and scenarios, to help you. It also highlights the changes over the last four decades and how the world has moved on. And how women still battle with self-image.
I've listened to this book twice and it'll be one I'll refer back to.
Using the tips and techniques has helped me communicate effectively to others.
I highly recommend.
August 11, 2025
2.5 DNF, tried twice but willing to try again. One complaint: very repetitive
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews