Association for Behavior Analysis International

Communicating in a way that allows one to share their perspective while fostering mutual respect with coworkers is key part of being an assertive professional. These skills are critical across settings because they lead to more effective collaboration and therefore promote growth for all involved. Many times, graduate students are not in a position to practice or learn assertiveness skills due to the power dynamics found in the university setting. Minorities and women often face additional societal barriers in professional settings (Cortina et. al., 2001) that exasperate these issues. Research has demonstrated that diversity increases the creativity and productivity in professional spaces (Leung et. al. 2008). Cultivating a more assertive communicative repertoire in professionals would allow for better integration of different perspectives; ultimately benefitting both the individual and those they work for. The panelists will share what they have learned on issues concerning assertive communication and developing a working style that allows for both mutual respect and consideration. Each panelist has held multiple prominent leadership positions and have had many successful collaborative relationships throughout their careers.