Advocating for Yourself in the Workplace

Are you waiting on someone else to notice your work, or figure out what you need to grow?

If you are- STOP RIGHT NOW!

I mean it. You have to stop waiting on others to support you, to get you where you need to go - where you WANT to go. One of the biggest mistakes I see people making in their careers is expecting that others will light the way for them. There are some who will, but I can't promise you that you will always have that person in your corner. YOU are the only person responsible for your growth. YOU have to advocate for yourself. For what you need, when you need it. And if you aren't getting it, then you need to consider moving on.

Let's dive in.

What does #self -#advocacy mean?

• It means:
• You are able to tell people your thoughts and feelings.
• That you are able to ask for what you #NEED and what you want.
• That you know what your #RIGHTS are - and you can speak up for yourself.
• That you are able to make choices and decisions for yourself that affect your life!
• It means SETTING #BOUNDARIES - letting others know what you will and will not accept, how you will and will not be treated, and what you will and will not tolerate from others!

Simply. Put- it's teaching people how to treat YOU. It's communicating all the things and helping them understand how they can support you.

Many people think it's about standing up for yourself or speaking up for yourself - And it IS - but it's sooo much more.

• Self-Advocacy is CRITICAL to your long-term #success , your overall happiness at work, AND how quickly you grow in your career and move up the corporate ladder.

But asking for what you need, especially from a superior, can be challenging and uncomfortable. The good news is, this is a #SKILL that you can DEVELOP! It is a muscle that you can grow by consistently exercising it!

In my Podcast, From Now to Next, Stepping Stone Episode 9 I talk about "Human Giver Syndrome" which is coined by #Amy and #Emily #Nagowski . #human #giver #syndrome is when we put all our energy into creating comfort for others, but we don't do it for ourselves. This often leads to us advocating for others, at the expense of our own needs.

It can be super uncomfortable to say NO to your boss, or nod your head in agreement when they talk about the path they see you going down, not necessarily the one you want - and I get that! But the longer you put off those truthful discussions, the longer it takes you to get on that right path.

Here is how you can advocate for yourself at work:

1. Ask your employer to help develop you professionally.
2. You can ask your leaders what their expectations and priorities of you are.
3. Ask your leader "What can I deprioritize" when they add more work to your plate if you are already slammed.
4. Blocking your lunch hour to spend on personal development.
5. Ask your manager for a #mentor to provide you additional guidance and #support .
6. Take part in a company #bookclub if one is offered.
7. #network with leaders in your space! #LinkedIn is a great place to do this!
8. Ask your #leader for a #stretchassignment
9. See if you can #shadow another department to further your knowledge of how the business works.
10. #learn a new skill and make sure your workplace knows about it!
11. TOOT YOUR OWN HORN!

How do you advocate for yourself in the workplace? Do any of these ideas speak to you? Comment, and let me know what you will do THIS WEEK to advocate for yourself!