In this episode, Andy interviews Dr. Yasmin Davidds about her book Graciously Assertive: How Becoming a Better Human Makes You a Better Leader. They discuss the importance of assertiveness in leadership, particularly in multicultural environments, and the need for leaders to benefit from diverse perspectives and promote a sense of belonging. Dr. Davidds shares insights on what she calls gracious assertiveness, including her personal journey and the pillars of gracious assertive leadership. She also addresses common themes in diversity and inclusion, the concept of holding space, and the impact of these ideas on both professional and personal relationships.

In a world where diversity and inclusion have been politicized and often seem primarily about the numbers, this discussion makes it all much more practical. You will learn practical strategies for becoming more assertive and creating inclusive environments.

• "Graciously assertive is the ability to self-advocate, to communicate in a way that holds space for the other side, that allows everyone in the conversation to feel heard."
• "If we can be gracious and be more accepting and receptive to other people's messages without taking it personal, we would have a much better workplace."
• "We just show up different. We don’t need our armor here."
• "Establishing healthy boundaries is important for individuals to prioritize their energy and create a space where they can be their best selves."
• "Self-judgment is a reflection of when you judge other people."

• 00:00 Introduction
• 02:26 Start Of Interview
• 02:37 How A Crisis Counselor Saved Yasmin's Life
• 04:54 Understanding Gracious Assertiveness
• 08:20 The Pillars Of Gracious Assertive Leadership
• 10:47 Self-Compassion And Overcoming Self-Judgment
• 12:40 Overcoming Self-Doubt
• 15:07 The Importance Of Healthy Boundaries
• 18:22 Graciously Assertive Communication Model
• 23:18 Negotiation Strategies With Difficult People
• 24:03 DEI Mistakes
• 29:33 Understanding And Implementing 'Holding Space'
• 33:20 Developing Graciously Assertive Children At Home
• 35:46 End Of Interview
• 36:06 Andy's Comments After The Interview
• 40:29 Outtakes

You can learn more about Dr. Davidds and her book at DrYasminInstitute.com/dr-yasmin-davidds/.

We regularly help people just like you prepare and pass their PMP and CAPM certification exams. If you or someone you know is thinking about pursuing project management certification, contact us! We'd love to help you earn your credential. Learn more and enroll at i-leadonline.com/PMSeries.

Thank you for joining me for this episode of The People and Projects Podcast!

Talent Triangle: Power Skills

Topics: Assertiveness, Diversity, Inclusion, Leadership, Self-awareness, Curiosity, Empathy, Project Management, Cross-Culture

The following music was used for this episode:

Music: Summer Morning Full Version by MusicLFiles
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Music: Synthiemania by Frank Schroeter
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license