- A study found that debate training may improve your chances of being promoted into leadership roles.
- Learning to argue well teaches assertiveness, a key leadership skill.
- An MIT researcher involved in the study shared tips on how to become more assertive at work.
If you're a team player who keeps their head down and never ruffles feathers, it might be why you haven't been promoted.
A recent study in the Journal of Applied Psychology found that assertiveness is key to moving up the career ladder. In the study, some of the 471 employees in a Fortune 100 firm were randomly assigned to receive nine weeks of debate training, which can improve confidence and public speaking skills. 18 months later, they were 12% more likely to have advanced into leadership roles than those in the control group.
Jackson Lu, one of the lead researchers and an associate professor of work and organization studies at MIT, told Business Insider that American workplaces tend to value people who assert their opinions. It "conveys confidence, motivation, passion, and engagement," he said.
Lu shared some tips on how to become more outspoken and direct at work, especially if it doesn't come naturally to you.
Invest in debate classes or a workshop
Debate training, whether it's a multi-week course or a quick workshop, can improve assertiveness. In a second experiment involving 975 university students, those who were randomly assigned debate training were more likely to exude leadership qualities in group activities afterwards.
Learning to argue well has a few benefits, Lu said. It teaches you to voice your opinion confidently and diplomatically, while also pushing past your "psychological comfort zone" in standing your ground when others disagree with you. All of these skills can come in handy at work, whether you're negotiating a raise or pitching an ambitious project.
Lu specializes in research on the "bamboo ceiling," which describes the barriers Asian Americans (particularly those of East Asian descent) face when trying to reach leadership positions. He said that because East Asian cultures tend to de-emphasize assertiveness in favor of humility and harmony, workers from those cultures might be passed over for promotions.
Similarly, he said, research shows that women tend to be less assertive than men, which can contribute to the glass ceiling they face.
"Someone might be unassertive for a variety of reasons — their ethnic background, cultural background, gender background," he said. "Whatever the background is, debate training can help them."
Change your delivery
If you don't have the time for debate classes, there are other ways to practice being more assertive at work.
Lu said a good place to start is to look at your public speaking skills. "How do you control your pacing? How do you control your intonation?" he said.
Working on the study taught Lu to look out for filler words like "um" and "like." He even told a friend he would pay him 50 cents every time he caught Lu using one.
Speak up for your work
Hard work is important. It's also important to make others aware of your contributions, Lu said. You need to be your own advocate and highlight each win.
Getting into the habit of speaking up also increases your visibility at work. Raising your hand when your boss presents an opportunity shows passion and eagerness, making you stand out.
If you have a weekly meeting, try making it a point to share your viewpoints more often. "If someone knows when to voice their opinions in a diplomatic and fruitful way, they will get more attention," Lu said.
In the long run, it can make you look more like a leader.
