Hello, my friend! How are you? If you're out of time or "in a rush", go to the last paragraph of this text for a fast answer.

In times of immediate responses and connection 24 hours a day, talking about long-term transformation is a risk! But… we believe you can (and must!) dream big, and make a daily effort to get better every day. This is our mission - seeing you speaking English and being a Leader wherever you go. "The 5 Essential People Skills" was written by Dale Carnegie and its goal is to improve your people skills. In other words, to improve your relationships at work and at home.

Last class we talked about how to respond to aggression, and Dale taught us the best way to do it: understanding the other person's point of view and keeping a respectful dialogue. Now it's time to put this advice into practice, and we'll talk about it now.

The author tells us to "take the road test" by starting with easier, less stressful situations. "Build some confidence. As you become more comfortable, you can make adjustments in your approach and prepare for more difficult situations". I know you have challenging topics ready to be taken, and we'll get there soon, but we can practice with the lighter ones before.

"It's just a matter of stepping slightly outside your comfort zone. If you're in a meeting, ask a question or tactfully challenge someone to explain a point. Write an email to a senior manager about something that concerns you". Carnegie is pushing us to have simple attitudes that will build muscle for the next (and more necessary) ones.

When you become more confident, you have more patience. We know that aggressiveness is related to insecurity and our intention is to see you prepared for tough moments, and always ready to enjoy the nice ones, too! I always ask you to write your plans, to comment your challenges here, because it helps you to clarify your thoughts. "Recognize that a win for you and a defeat for the other person is not the ideal outcome. Assertiveness is the modern equivalent of the Golden Rule", says Dale. Honor the wants and needs of others, and expect that they will do the same for you. What do you expect from your coworkers? What can they expect from you? Comment here and see you next class!