OKA's EQ Playlist-Assertiveness

What music makes you feel strong and powerful?

In the EQ-i model of Emotional Intelligence, Assertiveness is the ability and tendency to take a stand and put your needs, thoughts and opinions out into the world–even when doing so invites opposition or conflict. OKA’s Assertiveness Playlist would certainly include the following songs. Click the album cover or the song title to hear the song.

Brave, Sara Bareilles

What a great song about finding your voice–“Say what you wanna say, and let the words fall out. Honestly, I wanna see you be brave.”

Roar, Katy Perry

Another great contemporary song about speaking up. “You held me down, but I got up–already brushing off the dust. You hear my voice, you hear that sound, like thunder gonna shake the ground.” Come on everybody, let me here you roar!

Not Ready to Make Nice, Dixie Chicks

After their lead singer criticized then President George W. Bush, the Dixie Chicks were in a swirl of criticism that included protests and even death threats. This angry song–a great example of Assertiveness–put their quite successful careers on the line and while it won them Grammies for both Song and Record of the Year for 2006, it also cost them their primary fan base, and they were never as popular again. Assertiveness has its price.

No Surrender, Bruce Springsteen

“We made a promise we swore we’d always remember–No retreat, baby. No surrender.” The Boss could always be counted upon for a great, growly plea for Assertiveness.

You Oughta Know, Alanis Morissette

Alanis Morissette was all over the radio in 1995. This empowered voice–angry and self-assured–from such a young woman was so fresh and compelling. Sometimes the truth hurts, but you still ought to know it. In this song, she lays it out plainly and clearly.

I Won’t Back Down, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

The lyrics could not be much simpler–“I won’t back down. No, I won’t back down. You can stand me up at the gates of Hell, but I won’t back down.” Tom Petty’s laid-back urging for us to stand our ground and find our Assertiveness.

Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac

While half the songs in the rock-n-roll canon are angry-ish “Get out of here!” songs, few are as potent as this Fleetwood Mac classic from 1977.

What is on your Assertiveness playlist?

Interested in OKA’s other EQ playlists?

Interested in Learning More About the EQ-i?

OKA is a leader in field of Emotional Intelligence, with industry-leading EQ-i Certification and advanced application training programs as well as a host of EQ trainer support tools, including OKA’s EQ Introduction Workbook.

OKA’s EQ-i Certification Workshop

EQ for Teams and Organizations