Lack of assertiveness

Lack of assertiveness (hereinafter, the Factor) is the human factor that is characterized by a lack of positive communication of one's ideas, wants and needs. Assertiveness is the opposite of the Factor, which is considered being one of the Dirty Dozen of Human Factors.

In aviation maintenance

According to the FAA AMT Handbook,

Assertiveness is the ability to express your feelings, opinions, beliefs, and needs in a positive, productive manner and should not be confused with being aggressive. It is important for aircraft maintenance technicians to be assertive when it pertains to aviation repair rather than choosing or not being allowed to voice their concerns and opinions. The direct result of not being assertive could ultimately cost people their lives. The following are examples of how a lack of assertiveness can be offset:

1. Address managers and supervisors directly by stating the problem. Example: “John, I have a concern with how this repair is being rushed.”
2. Explain what the consequences will be. Example: “If we continue, the result will be that the part will break sooner rather than later.”
3. Propose possible solutions to the problem. Example: “We could try doing things another way or you may want to try this way.”
4. Always solicit feedback and include other opinions. Example: “John, what do you think?”

When being assertive with co-workers or management, deal with one issue at a time rather than trying to tackle a number of problems at once. It is also important to have documentation and facts to back up your argument, which can give people a visual account of what you are trying to explain. A lack of assertiveness in failing to speak up when things do not seem right has resulted in many fatal accidents. This can easily be changed by promoting good communication between co-workers and having an open relationship with supervisors and management. Maintenance managers must be familiar with the behavior style of the people they supervise and learn to utilize their talents, experience, and wisdom. As the employees become aware of behavior styles and understand their own behavior, they see how they unwittingly contribute to some of their own problems and how they can make adjustments. Assertive behavior may not be a skill that comes naturally to every individual, but it is a critical skill to achieve effectiveness. Aircraft maintenance technicians should give supervisors and management the kind of feedback required to ensure that they will be able to assist the mechanic to do their job.

Mitigating the risk: (a) Provide clear feedback when a risk or danger is perceived, (b) Allow co-workers to give their opinions and always accept corrective criticisms, (c) Never compromise your standards. Lack of assertiveness in failing to alert others when something does not seem right, can result in many fatal accidents. Do not let something that you know is wrong continue by ignoring that it is there.