Let's imagine you're out to dinner with a group of friends.
You've been looking forward to this all week.
The waiter finally brings your meal and it's not what you ordered.
There are two ways you can respond in this situation.
Option one, excuse me.
I wonder if maybe there's been a mistake with this order.
If not, don't worry about it and option two, excuse me, I believe there's been a mistake with this order.
I ordered the pasta with mushrooms, not the mushroom pizza.
Do you notice that one response is more direct and confident than the other?
The passive example places someone else's comfort above your own needs, while the assertive response commonly and confidently states what you need or what you want without any negative emotion.
