Growing in your career can mean many things—from skill development, title change and pay increase to defining boundaries, time management and work-life balance. As we think about ways to #EmbraceEquity during Women’s History Month, the notion of self-advocacy stood out to me as an impactful way to spur change on your own terms.
Success is ours to own; self-advocacy can help us take ownership of our success, create growth opportunities and avoid burnout when things get tough. It’s important to celebrate your wins while remaining open and vulnerable during the lows. Every leader must empower their teams to embrace openness and vulnerability.
When I think about self-advocacy, I think about the importance of self-awareness, asking questions and telling your story.
Self-awareness drives success.
Knowledge is power. The more confident you are in your role and your contribution to the business, the better you can position yourself to say yes—or no! Take the time to understand yourself; what are your key strengths and weaknesses? What gives you energy in your career, and what doesn’t? Where do you want your career to take you? It’s also important to align your efforts with what is important to the business. Be sure to ask yourself, “Am I spending my time on what the business cares about most? How am I contributing to the mission, vision and goals of the organization?”
Ask questions to grow in your career.
Avoid assumptions. If you have a specific ask, keep it as a standing agenda item until it is resolved and there is a clear path to moving forward. Gaining clarity in your work and your goals will help you progress, and it will also allow your leaders to see that you care about doing your best work.
Tell your story often.
If you are hitting your targets (or not), don’t assume your manager knows all the great work you are doing behind the scenes. Tell the story—your story—often to ensure those around you know. Keep a career file on hand that you regularly update with your achievements and progress to easily reference. This will help during quarterly and annual reviews, and it will also help you confidently communicate regular updates with your manager.
The top two areas I recommend that you advocate for yourself are a clear career path and your needs as an employee.
Self-advocacy can feel uncomfortable at times. Sometimes simple activities such as adding an agenda point for your weekly win and challenges can make the conversation easier. Build on your wins and keep it as an ongoing process. Your career is full of potential and possibilities: always look for opportunities to win and grow.
Madalen Smith
Customer Success Manager
Sydney, AUS
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