What to Say to Get the Most Out of Your Self-Advocacy
Here are TWO pointers on how to get the most out of self-advocacy in the workplace.
1. Start with these three word: "I would like..."
The goal is for you to make requests, which is neither a veiled threat or an apology.
You're NOT going to say, "If I don't get what I want, then I'm quitting!"
❌ Nor will you hem and haw or talk in a roundabout way, like this, "Oh, I was just thinking, it could help me achieve my professional development goals if I were to be leading the client presentation next time, but it's totally ok if that's too much to ask for" (while nervously fidgeting).
✅ After practicing the brain-state changing techniques (that I teach in this podcast episode) to quell your nervousness, you will calmly say something like, "I would like to lead the client presentation next time, and if that works for you, I'll go ahead and work out the logistics with our cross-functional partners."
2. Think through WHO makes the most sense for you to ask + WHY
Which means you want to think through the specific outcome you most want. Here are two case studies to consider:
📣 Case study A: Enlist an ally
For my client Ellie, an engineer in a male-dominated workplace, it made a world of a difference for her to reach out to her male colleague, Josh, and ask him, "Whenever you see me do something technically competent, would you please give me a shout-out at the weekly engineering meeting?"
Josh happily obliged, and within months, Ellie's promotion was announced. Enlisting Josh to be an outspoken ally was a strategic move that helped to shape the manger's perception of her promotability.
🤝 Case study B: Identity the real decision-maker
For Janae, a Marketing Manager, it made the most sense for her to schedule an informal 1:1 with her skip-level manager, the VP of Sales, Yvette.
Even though Janae technically reported to Joe, Senior Director of Communications, Joe wasn't involved, nor had a stake in the niche expert marketing Janae was focused on.
Because Janae's efforts generated sales leads, Yvette had a stake in her success. And it was Yvette who ultimately approved both Janae's ideas and her promotion to Director position with a $35K pay bump.
For both Ellie and Janae, the crucial piece to making their self-advocacy a success was first gaining agency over their emotions, so that they felt LESS anxiety and MORE confidence.
If you want 1:1 expert guidance in your corner, so that you can feel more calm, confident and grounded, as you navigate and negotiate for your career growth, you're invited to book your free 1:1 consultation with me today.
