You’re feeling stuck in your accounting career. How can you use assertiveness to move forward?

1 Assess your situation

The first step to becoming more assertive is to assess your current situation and identify where you feel stuck. Do you feel like you’re not valued by your boss or clients? Do you have trouble saying no to unreasonable requests or deadlines? Do you avoid asking for feedback, raises, or promotions? Do you lack confidence in your accounting skills or knowledge? Write down the specific areas where you want to improve your assertiveness and how they affect your career satisfaction and goals.

2 Set clear boundaries

The next step is to set clear boundaries for yourself and others. Boundaries are the limits that you establish to protect your time, energy, and well-being. For example, you might decide to only work a certain number of hours per week, to not answer emails after hours, or to not take on tasks that are outside your scope of work. Setting boundaries can help you avoid burnout, resentment, and stress. To set boundaries, you need to communicate them clearly and respectfully to your boss, colleagues, and clients, and stick to them consistently.

3 Ask for what you want

The third step is to ask for what you want in your accounting career. Whether it’s a raise, a promotion, a new project, or a flexible schedule, you need to be proactive and assertive in expressing your needs and expectations. Asking for what you want can help you achieve your career aspirations, increase your income, and enhance your reputation. To ask for what you want, you need to prepare a strong case for why you deserve it, use positive and confident language, and handle objections or rejections gracefully.

4 Give and receive feedback

The fourth step is to give and receive feedback effectively. Feedback is essential for your professional growth and development as an accountant. Feedback can help you improve your accounting skills, learn from your mistakes, and identify your strengths and areas of improvement. To give feedback, you need to be specific, constructive, and timely. To receive feedback, you need to be open, respectful, and grateful. Giving and receiving feedback can help you build trust, rapport, and credibility with your boss, colleagues, and clients.

5 Develop your skills

The fifth step is to develop your skills and knowledge as an accountant. Learning new skills and staying updated on the latest accounting trends and standards can help you boost your confidence, performance, and value. Developing your skills can also help you expand your career options, increase your marketability, and achieve your career goals. To develop your skills, you need to seek out learning opportunities, such as courses, webinars, podcasts, books, or mentors, and apply what you learn to your accounting practice.

6 Be a leader

The sixth and final step is to be a leader in your accounting field. Leadership is not only about having a title or a position, but also about having a vision, a passion, and a positive impact. Being a leader can help you inspire, influence, and motivate others, as well as showcase your accounting expertise and professionalism. To be a leader, you need to demonstrate initiative, integrity, and accountability, as well as share your insights, ideas, and feedback with others.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?