Whether you tend to empathy or assertiveness, balance by bringing in both qualities.

Feeling forced to choose to be assertive or empathetic is natural. Yet you may actually feel mixed and even desire to both assert and empathize.

Bringing in the other quality is easier than you might think. For example, begin with an empathetic statement to pave the road for an assertive statement. Consider making consecutive statements, one of each type. "If I were...