Passive behavior is often taken advantage of. This includes working environments where people can assign you tasks outside of your job description, knowing that pleasing people is part of that behavior, and it gets done even though it is not your job. Families take advantage, even, leaving you as the one to babysit or assist when no one else answers their phone. Both instances it prevents you from performing at your best.
In the workplace, it holds a person back from demanding more pay, demanding more respect, and being compensated for competence. Anyone with a dream should pursue that dream, being overly passive is often one of the largest obstacles that hold behind their dreams, rather than in front and thriving.
Passive behavior is a sign of weakness to those who walk around with an aura of confidence. It seems as if those with a need to please are the ones that are walked all over. However, with this behavior comes obvious signs such as halting speech patterns, self-loathing comments, and visible discomfort. This behavior always leads to being taken advantage of in every area of life. Even the most confident of people fight passive behavior because it is the road of least resistance, but they are the ones that obtain the promotions, bonuses, and accolades in the workplace.
It is hard to ignore those that interrupt during a speech or presentation, someone with a passive personality would be thrown off subject and course by this. But there is a distinct difference between being rude and being confident. At the same time, as the speaker, there is no room for belittling yourself by allowing repeated interruptions or comments that seem off color. There is a middle ground to be had. Being naturally passive is not a flaw, but a feature to grow from so that when you command the room, the room knows.
Rude behavior is witnessed every day. Loud talking on a cell phone while you are trying to enjoy a family dinner, speaking rudely to the wait staff and ignoring outside advice is part of the world we live in. But that does not mean it should be allowed in work life. If a subordinate pulls out their cell phone every five minutes rather than do their work, there should be no fear attached to correcting that employee. So often, passive supervisors and coworkers ignore blatant disregard to policy and procedure. When these people disregard rules, they pull the entire company down with them.
Being too passive can and will prevent you from performing at optimal level. By being assertive, you are far more likely to reach that goal or dream in your career. Find that middle ground by using an online assertiveness assessment to decipher what sort of employee or boss you are so that you can move forward and upward with essential tools. No one wants to be the walking matt for their peers, but no one wants a dictator for a peer, either. As a passive personality, the latter often holds them captive, refusing them the stepping stones to succeed.