With -researcher: tips to become more assertive, rise a career ladder

• A study showed that debate training can improve their chances of being promoted in leadership roles.
• Learning to argue well teaches assertiveness, an important leadership qualities.
• A with researcher who was involved in the study shared tips on how to become more confident at work.

If you are a team player who lowered your head and never calls feathers, it may be the reason why you have not been promoted.

A current study in the Journal of Applied Psychology showed that assertiveness is of crucial importance to improve career ladder. In the study, some of the 471 employees in a Fortune 100 company were commissioned for nine weeks to train for nine weeks, which can improve the trust and skills of the public speaking. 18 months later, they were 12% more than those in the control group.

Jackson LU, one of the senior researchers and associate Professor of Work and Organization Studies, told Business Insider that American jobs tend to appreciate people who think of their opinion. It “conveys trust, motivation, passion and commitment,” he said.

LU gave some tips on how to become more open and direct at work, especially if it is not a matter of course for them.

Invest in debate courses or a workshop

The debate training, regardless of whether it is a course of several weeks or a quick workshop, can improve the assertiveness. In a second experiment with 975 university students who randomly assigned debate training, it was more likely that the leadership qualities in group activities were then triggered in group activities.

Lu, to argue well, has some advantages, said Lu. It teaches you to express your opinion confidently and diplomatically and at the same time to exceed your “psychological comfort zone” in order to pass your floor if others do not agree. All of these skills can be useful at work, regardless of whether they negotiate an increase or take up an ambitious project.

LU specializes in research into the “bamboo blanket”, which describes the barriers of the Asian Americans (especially East Asian descent) when they try to achieve management positions. He said because East Asian cultures tend to enforce assertiveness in favor of humility and harmony, workers from these cultures could be handed over for promotions.

Similarly, studies show that women are usually less assertive than men, which can contribute to the glass ceiling with which they are exposed.

“For reasons, someone could be unbound – their ethnic background, cultural background, gender -specific background,” he said. “Whatever is the background, the debate training can help you.”

Change your delivery

If you don't have the time for debate courses, there are other ways to practice more confidently at work.

Lu said a good starting point was to look at her skills in public speaking. “How do you control your pace? How do you control your intonation?” he said.

The work on the study taught Lu to look for fill words such as “for” and “Like”. He even told a friend that he would pay him 50 cents every time he caught Lu.

Talk to your work

Hard work is important. It is also important to make others aware of their contributions, said Lu. You have to be your own lawyer and highlight every win.

If you start to comment on the habit, your visibility at work also increases. When your boss offers an opportunity, she shows passion and zeal and lets her highlight.

If you have a weekly meeting, try to share your points of view more often. “If someone knows when to express their opinions diplomatically and fertile, they will get more attention,” said Lu.

In the long run, it can make them look like a leader.