Here's how you can develop assertiveness in a male-dominated Search Engine field.

To develop assertiveness in a male-dominated search engine field, focus on building confidence through continuous learning, networking with industry peers, and seeking mentorship. Clearly communicate your ideas, set boundaries, and advocate for your contributions.

I would say talk to people who work in digital marketing to learn new ideas. Join online groups, watch videos, and go to classes. This helps you understand more and see how experts do things differently.

There is a saying "closed mouths don't get fed". Remember to protect your ideas. Don't forget the value in knowing what you don't want. Consider when is the right time? Perhaps you need to cultivate a certain environment or direct an initiative that so eloquently displays what you're wanting to talk about. Are there similarities in what others are saying that your thoughts and ideas would complement? Use these as a segway. Compliment them and then take YOUR time to expand that idea. This way you not only get the floor to speak but you borrow on someone's credibility and gain a partner in your endeavor. If you don't publicly voice your ideas, they remain in danger of being stolen and used.

As they say, if you want tobe seen "STAND UP" and if you want tobe heard "SPEAK UP". Assertiveness, often mis-quoted as aggressiveness should be dealt with right information conveyed at right time in right manner! It is very important to actively share your prospective during meetings for which one needs to practice active listening as well, since communication is a two-way flow. To ensure adding value to discussion it is important to prepare well ahead of the meetings, know the granular details of subject, have factual &data supportive discussion points than merely making statements, prepare for anticipated counters and never fear of being challenged by rest of group. Challenge problem not people. Aim to be VOICE and not NOISE in meeting.

Absolutely, get your ideas ready before you talk. Think about what others might say against your ideas and have proof to support your points. Listen carefully to others, show you understand them, and work together to make better ideas.

The best thing you can do is join online groups and go to events to meet people in the field. Talking to these people will help you learn new things and get plenty of support.

In my more than 2 decades of professional experience, one important success factor of my professional journey has been becos of my uncompromised values, principles& integrity. Life might serve many opportunities for quick wins but at cost of compromising your values& I believe such wins are biggest defeats in long term. Being successful at any level of professional ladder warrants for setting ones boundaries & learning to say NO where & when required. Doing things under pressure, under obligations so on so forth indicate one's weakness as a person and potential future leader. Setting boundaries is not a rude personality trait, on the contrary it reflects on clarity of your thoughts, your acceptance and your working standards.

In my experience, many of us have inhibitions or insecurities of getting feedback since feedbacks have developed a notion of being negative learnings about self which doesn't sound good to our ears and mind. Feedback is one of powerful & inexpensive yet valuable tool to learn about your areas of development. I invest significant time and effort to scale myself further for which regular feedback play pivotal role to uncover the areas which might get unnoticed or unrealized by self evaluation. To have an assertive voice in team it is important one captures what others feel for our knowledge, inputs, suggestions & approach of putting across our views. Being successful in search engine it is critical to capture feedback as constructive tool

When people give you feedback, take your time to think about it and don’t take it too personal. Look for the parts where you can do things better. Remember, feedback isn't about how good or bad you are, but about helping you learn and grow.