Women in engineering often face unique challenges when voicing disagreement or saying "no" in professional settings. The "Disagree and Commit" approach provides practical tools for expressing dissent confidently while maintaining professional relationships – especially important in environments where women's voices may be undervalued or misinterpreted. This session addresses common scenarios women engineers encounter, such as being labeled "difficult" when disagreeing or feeling pressure to always say "yes." Through real examples, you'll learn strategies to present your position with authority, back your decisions with data, and maintain professional boundaries without apologizing. You'll gain practical techniques for communicating disagreement effectively, including specific phrases that work, ways to handle interruptions or dismissive responses, and methods to ensure your expertise is recognized. These skills are vital whether you're pushing back on unrealistic deadlines, challenging technical decisions, or managing project scope. Leave with concrete tools to voice your professional opinion while building stronger working relationships.
Learning Objectives:
Identify when to say no without guilt or apology.
Practice expressing disagreement with confidence and clarity.
Demonstrate techniques to stay firm while maintaining relationships.
