What do you do if tensions arise between your assertiveness and diplomacy as a network engineer?

Understand Roles: Recognize the expertise and contributions of each team member, including your own, to appreciate the value of different perspectives. Communication Skills: Use clear, concise language to articulate your points while being receptive to feedback and other viewpoints. Team Dynamics: Foster a team environment where assertiveness is balanced with respect for others’ ideas and positions. Conflict Resolution: Employ problem-solving skills to find a compromise or a new solution that satisfies all parties involved.

Understanding team dynamics with roles and responsibilities is key to striking the balance. Building on the premise of respect, if you are in a room full of assertive speakers, diplomacy may not get you very far and vice versa. Adaptability is an important skill and leveraging it is a must for every network engineer.

In many projects, especially with many subprojects initiated, many project managers can face functional duplications, work bottlenecks, or the relaxation of some specialists when others are on multiple tasks. From my experience, it is better to redraw the organizational structure of the project with all its functions and try to reallocate the team accordingly, taking into account time-consuming, workflow, processes, priority, etc. From organizational structure, it becomes clear if you need more people in the team or if you can replace the roles or add some functions depending on the involvement or interests of the team members.

Technical change vs harmony is an ongoing debate. The best advice is to be slow to talk and quick to hear. Have an overview of the situation and handle accordingly to find solutions that everyone can agree with. Nothing is set in stone Remember that

Assertiveness in communication is?the ability to directly state your feelings and needs in a respectful manner. An assertive communication style neither shrinks from speaking up nor aggressively forces a perspective on someone else

Balancing diplomacy and assertiveness involves?expressing your thoughts respectfully. Start with acknowledging others' perspectives, then assert your ideas clearly, using "I" statements to convey your thoughts without sounding confrontational. Finding a middle ground fosters effective communication.

Definitely easier said than done, especially if supervisors or management has little to no experience on the subject. If they reject a proposal because of budgetary constraints, get back to the drawing board and propose a solution that’s within the budget scope and gets the job done. Recognized Brands within the industry are pricy and offer features your organization might not need. It’s the lesser known brands that offer unique features that can certainly propel management goals forward.

Entender a dinamica da equipe, as suas influências e viéses é fundamental para tratar os conflitos. Eles ir?o existir, somos pessoas e temos ideias, comportamentos e expectativas diferentes. Porém o desejo do cliente, o objetivo do trabalho ou a entrega a ser feita será uma só para todo o time. Com esse alvo em comum na mente a equipe é sua lideran?a conseguem nortear a dinamica dentro do time. E assim atingir objetivos maiores que os pequenos conflitos do dia-a-dia.

You will ALWAYS have to compromise on the ideal solution. Engineers want the best results but management tends to expect the same results with less budget. It’s up to you and your team to find a creative solution that’s less expensive and does the job above expectation.

Its highly recommended to use personal reflection to understand the reasons behind tensions that may arise from your assertiveness. You might feel undervalued or unheard, or there could be a gap in understanding between you and your colleagues. Reflecting on your motivations and analyzing the reactions of others can provide valuable insights into how to adjust your approach. It's essential to take the time to assess the causes of these tensions. You may find that you need to change your strategy, or it might be helpful to provide additional information or training for your colleagues to bridge the understanding gap.

To succeed in their career, individuals must consistently work on improving their skills and knowledge to remain adaptable in a competitive job market. Ongoing progress is essential for excelling in professional endeavors, meeting evolving demands, and being prepared for changing trends. Prioritizing continual learning and development is key for staying competitive, seizing new growth opportunities, and reaching full potential in a chosen career path. Emphasizing continual growth is vital for remaining versatile and adaptable, achieving long-term success, and thriving in a chosen field. By focusing on continuous improvement, individuals can stay relevant, better face challenges, seize opportunities, and achieve their career aspirations.

Just like relationships, when tension arise, a compromise could be required. Be that network engineer who is willing to propose and accept safe compromises of network solutions. Suggest phased implementations or alternative solutions that can meet both security needs and other concerns.