Learning to advocate for yourself at work is key to personal wellbeing —and yes, it’s a skill you can master without breaking into a cold sweat. This post breaks down why self-advocacy matters, offering practical tips to help you speak up, and take charge of your career—without the panic!
Real talk: why is it so hard to advocate for yourself at work? Whether it’s seeking professional development opportunities, advocating for fair compensation or simply asking for more responsibility, the very idea of self-advocacy can trigger a range of emotions from dread to full-blown panic. Many of us are taught to work hard and let the results speak for themselves, but the truth is that self-advocacy is an essential skill to have for work and life —and it’s one that requires practice and consistency.
Truth be told, I have always struggled with advocating for myself – especially early in my career. I came from the school of thought that hard work will get noticed and lead to advancement, but I’ve learned along the way it’s not something you want to leave up to chance.
In a recent conversation with a colleague I’ve been mentoring at work, she admitted she was struggling with how to advocate for herself with her manager. Can you relate? How often do you talk about your growth at work, whether it’s for a different role, fair compensation, or gaining new skills?
Why Self-Advocacy is Important
Self-advocacy is more than just a personal skill—it’s a career necessity, and experts agree on its powerful impact. According to a Harvard Business Review article, advocating for yourself helps professionals navigate workplace dynamics, create visibility, and establish boundaries that support both professional success and personal well-being. The author advocates to start by gaining career clarity—understand what you want, what you’re good at, and the environment that helps you thrive. Choose a specific goal and map out the steps to achieve it. Build confidence, find allies, and understand your manager’s expectations. Then, make your ask with clarity and purpose.
Self-advocacy is a tool to help you do that, and it’s more than just asking for what you need. It’s about
recognizing your worth, understanding your goals, and making concrete steps to achieve them. Here’s a podcast worth listening to from Resilient Revenue that includes some helpful tips!
3 Strategies
According to experts, there are three key strategies for successful self-advocacy that can help you navigate workplace challenges and boost your career.
- Start Small and Practice
Advocating for yourself takes practice. Begin with small, low-risk asks to build confidence. For example, instead of immediately asking for an extension on a project, try identifying the real obstacles you’re facing and present solutions. Maybe the deadline is unrealistic, or you’re waiting on approvals—propose a more manageable plan to help get you to “yes.” Over time, these small wins will help you improve your skills and make it easier to ask for bigger things down the line. - Make Empathy Your Advantage
Being empathetic doesn’t mean compromising—it means framing your request in a way that benefits both you and the person you’re asking. For example, if you’re looking for more flexibility in your work schedule, consider how your request will help your manager or team. Maybe working remotely helps you focus better or saves time. When you make it clear that your request will solve a problem for both sides, you improve your chances of success and avoid the typical backlash women can face when advocating for themselves. - Team Up
When asking for something bigger, like a new responsibility or a promotion, team up with a mentor, coach or peers. A request backed by multiple voices carries more weight. This is especially useful in environments where women are underrepresented. Having guidance from a coach or mentor can help develop your proposal in a way that will be mutually beneficial to you and your manager. Asking a colleague for support can also help bring a different perspective to the proposal and establish more support/credibility for what you are proposing. You may find that presenting your ideas as a team effort can make it more persuasive.
These strategies come from research and experts who emphasize that self-advocacy is a skill that can be practiced and refined over time. By starting small, using empathy, and leveraging support, you’ll be on your way to advocating for yourself with confidence and clarity. More to come on this topic in future blog posts!
Thanks for reading! xx
