(OK, this last one's not really mishandled assertiveness. It's from a cartoon I read years ago–a hilarious lampooning of the faux-apology, but it's not too far from the kind of half-hearted ...

Assertiveness isn’t just for people who love the sound of their own voice. Learn to speak up on your own terms with these 3 tips. This is the first step. Remember you have something to say ...