Here's how you can cultivate assertiveness and confidence in a male-dominated industry.

To build assertiveness and confidence in a male-dominated industry, focus on developing strong skills, speak up when you have valuable insights, and set clear boundaries. Practice self-assurance through small wins, seek supportive mentors, and remember that your voice and contributions are important.

Cultivating assertiveness and confidence in a male-dominated industry involves a few key strategies. Start by believing in your abilities and recognizing your achievements, no matter how small. Set clear boundaries and communicate your needs and expectations assertively, without being aggressive. Seek out mentors and allies who can provide support and guidance. Continuously develop your skills and knowledge to stay confident in your expertise. Practice self-care to maintain your mental and emotional well-being. By building a strong support network and consistently advocating for yourself, you can thrive and make a significant impact in any industry.

Cultivating assertiveness and confidence in a male-dominated society can be challenging, but it's definitely achievable.Know Your Worth.Confidence comes from self-belief. Identify your skills, accomplishments, and value creation. Regularly remind yourself of what you bring to the table given an opportunity.

To cultivate this mindset in a male-dominated society is unfortunately a struggle, as there is still a preconceived notion amongst many, that this is the way it should be. This in itself is a positive opportunity, to prove people wrong, through resilience and confidence. Look at the current Russia/Ukrain situation, whereby, the might of the Russian Power, is time and time again, proven to be weak, by the Confidence and Belief that the Ukrains have and their drive to win. I will always believe that the Domineering personality is the weakest, and if you believe in yourself, then you are the strongest. Trust your hard work, as it is unlocking doors that you can't see yet.

Como mentor, eu diria que conhecer a si mesmo é o primeiro passo para cultivar assertividade em um ambiente dominado por homens. Compreenda seus pontos fortes, valores e habilidades. Isso permitirá que você se sinta mais seguro ao expressar suas opiniões e se destacar no seu campo, independentemente.

It is important to set boundaries about what you'll accept from others - and in a male dominated field my observation and experience makes me think of NOT being saddled with the admin tasks or keeping everyone else organized, unless that's actually part of your job. It's easy to dive in with the spirit of team work, but instead try to sit back and focus on priorities. Another approach is to think about setting boundaries with yourself. When you are in an underrepresented group, you can put a lot of pressure on yourself. Consider having a "should fast" - fast as in fasting. Give up hounding yourself with things you "should" do and think in terms of what you will and won't do. Do it for 40 days and see if you can change that mental habit.

Ah, boundaries. Too often people lose all boundaries as they think this is how to show others they are a team player, or that they will take on any and all work or any other poor reason. Boundaries are important in all aspects, and if, as a woman, you are looking to find your voice, start using it by acknowledging and speaking up about what's acceptable and what's not. If someone interrupts you, calmly interject that you appreciate their insights but were not done sharing your own. Know your worth and show others how you should be treated. Speak up. Speaking up is key and not just about what's acceptable/not acceptable but to share your ideas. You can't get ahead of no one knows that you have contributions.

Ser assertivo envolve deixar claro o que é aceitável e não permitir que seja diminuída(o) ou desvalorizada(o) em discussões e projetos importantes. Portanto, estabeleça limites claros para garantir que sua voz seja ouvida e respeitada.

Pour fixer des limites, il faut d'abord savoir ce que l'on veut, connaitre ses objectifs et les limites de ce que l'on est prête à accepter ou pas. Il s'agit ensuite de savoir fixer ses propres limites aux autres : il ne s'agit pas de refuser à tout va mais plutôt de bien comprendre la demande pour pouvoir proposer une solution qui convienne à son interlocuteur, de ne pas s'arrêter à un non qui pourrait être ma accepté mais d'essayer de proposer une solution alternative ou d'expliquer pourquoi vous ne pouvez pas répondre positivement à la demande en utilisant le "je" et en vous concentrant sur la situation et non sur la personne. C'est ainsi que vous développerez un environnement positif, la confiance en vous et que vous serez respectée !

2. Set Clear Boundaries Assertiveness is not about being aggressive; it’s about standing firm on what’s important to you. Clearly communicate your boundaries at work. Let people know where you stand—whether it’s respecting your time, workload, or professional space.

S'affirmer signifie déjà savoir qui ont veut être professionnellement, quelle image on veut avoir, quels sujets on veut porter pour atteindre ses objectifs professionnels. Ce n'est pas toujours facile en tant que femme dans un milieu dans lequel elle peut être jugée plus sévèrement que ses pairs masculins et dans lequel on lui laisse peu de place. Il s'agit pour elle de trouver l'équilibre : ni agressive, ni passive elle doit exprimer ses positions de manière claire, respectueuse et confiante en - exprimant ses idées en utilisant le 'je" pour exprimer ses ressentis et présenter ses réussites - ayant une posture droite, un regard assuré et une voix ferme pour être entendue et respectée - se faisant aider par un réseau bienveillant

To cultivate assertiveness and confidence in a male-dominated industry, start by knowing your strengths and owning them. Set clear boundaries in both your work and interactions, and practice assertiveness by speaking up in meetings or discussions where your input matters. Surround yourself with strong role models, both male and female, who can offer guidance and insight. Building a network of supportive colleagues can also help you feel grounded and confident in your career. Lastly, reflect on your progress regularly and adjust where needed to keep growing.

Minha recomendação como mentor seria praticar a assertividade em situações pequenas e ir ampliando progressivamente. Envolva-se em conversas importantes, compartilhe suas ideias e não tenha medo de discordar quando necessário. A prática constante ajuda a solidificar a confiança em ambientes desafiadores.

"Speak Up, Stand Out." - Easier said than done :) Start by practicing assertiveness in low-risk situations where you can voice your opinions without much resistance. Gradually, as you gain comfort, take on more challenging scenarios. Remember, assertiveness is about expressing your thoughts clearly and respectfully, not aggressively. It's about ensuring your perspective is heard and considered. In my experience, starting with small steps in expressing my views helped build my confidence, eventually enabling me to tackle more significant challenges effectively.

La asertividad es como un músculo: cuanto más la practicas, más fuerte se vuelve. Comienza con situaciones de bajo riesgo en las que puedas expresar tu opinión de manera clara y respetuosa. A medida que ganes confianza, enfrenta escenarios más desafiantes. Recuerda, ser asertivo no es ser agresivo, es comunicar tus pensamientos y asegurarte de que tu perspectiva sea tenida en cuenta. Practicar constantemente te permitirá fortalecer tu asertividad y mantener tu postura firme, incluso en entornos más exigentes.

Se fosse mentor nesta situação, eu sugeriria que você busque modelos de comportamento em sua área, tanto homens quanto mulheres, que demonstrem assertividade e confiança. Eles podem oferecer orientação e inspiração sobre como navegar e prosperar em um ambiente masculino, ajudando você a fortalecer sua postura profissional.

"Modeling Success" Seek out individuals in your field who command respect and display confidence. Observe their behavior in meetings, negotiations, and daily interactions. Learn from their approaches and adapt their strategies to suit your style and workplace dynamics. In my career, identifying and emulating confident role models provided me with valuable insights and techniques, helping me navigate challenging environments with greater assurance.

Los modelos a seguir pueden ser una fuente poderosa de inspiración para la asertividad. Encuentra personas en tu industria que inspiren respeto y proyecten confianza. Observa cómo se manejan en reuniones, negociaciones y en las interacciones del día a día. Aprende de su enfoque y adapta sus estrategias a tu propio estilo y a la dinámica de tu entorno. Tener un modelo a seguir te proporciona una guía práctica para navegar con seguridad y asertividad en cualquier situación profesional.

a #strong mentor can really uplift and be a great support & reassurance for any employee for that matter irrespective of the dominant work culture..

Tu red es tu fuerza: rodéate de personas que te impulsen hacia adelante. Construir una red de apoyo es esencial para tu crecimiento personal y profesional. Conéctate con colegas, únete a grupos de la industria y busca mentores que te ofrezcan orientación y ánimo. Estas relaciones te proporcionarán nuevas perspectivas, te ayudarán a superar desafíos y reforzarán tu confianza mientras dejas tu huella en la industria. Tu red no solo te apoya, sino que también te impulsa a seguir creciendo.

Here's a suggestion to enhance your "reflect and adjust" practice in situations like this one. Our brains need reflection time to integrate information and support new mindsets and behaviors - including building confidence. Even if we are introverted, the way the brain is structured is for social learning. We need others to help contextualize new things, that's what makes them stick. So the idea is: create a reflection time at a regular increment - say every 8-12 weeks with a friend or network connection. Take turns sharing your reflections on your learning and progress. Have the other person write notes for you on your share and you make notes on theirs. Entrench learning through "co-reflection" = knowledge transfer with social support.

In a male-dominated industry, cultivating assertiveness requires constant reflection and adaptation. During the Inventory Optimization Project, I practiced situational awareness by recognizing when to adjust my communication style to match the room’s dynamics. I used the Johari Window framework, which helped me improve self-awareness and gain feedback from colleagues to refine how I presented myself. This iterative approach to growth enhanced my confidence, especially in high-pressure meetings. "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg is a great resource for balancing assertiveness with flexibility. Sometimes, it's not about the loudest voice—it's about knowing when to pivot ⚖️💡.

Eu acrescentaria "compreender as alavancas de crescimento” da indústria em questão para se posicionar com mais profundidade e autoconfiança. Estude as inovações e as tendências emergentes na indústria. Isso pode envolver tecnologias emergentes, mudanças no comportamento do consumidor ou novos modelos de negócios. Esteja atenta às áreas onde há um potencial significativo de crescimento e inovação. Identifique onde existem lacunas ou oportunidades dentro do setor. Essas lacunas podem ser áreas não suficientemente exploradas ou problemas que precisam ser resolvidos. Por último, envolver-se ativamente em projetos e iniciativas que estejam alinhados com as alavancas de crescimento do setor.

Strategic communication is essential for building assertiveness in a male-dominated space. While working on the Sales System Implementation Project, I adopted assertive communication through the DESC (Describe, Express, Specify, Consequences) technique. This framework ensured that I could express my needs and boundaries effectively without being confrontational. By delivering my points clearly and succinctly, especially during project meetings, I was able to command respect while maintaining professionalism. "Radical Candor" by Kim Scott is an excellent guide for mastering direct yet empathetic communication. Pro tip: It’s not about what you say—it’s how you say it 🎯📣.

In addition to knowing yourself, you need to identify workplace allies. Some co-workers may exude an attitude that shows they are more likely to throw you under the bus or pledge allegiance to other male co-workers. You can quickly identify this and adjust your conduct with them accordingly. Identify male allies to whom you can voice your concerns so that when you speak up for yourself, there is someone available to back you up.