10 Powerful Self-Advocacy Examples For The Workplace

Self-advocacy isn’t a dirty word. So why is it so hard to do?

Here’s why self-advocacy skills don’t come naturally to you.

You were taught to play nice. Trust the experts. And be humble. But when it comes to your career, these qualities can actually hurt you.

Self-advocacy is about showing up for yourself. Promoting your ideas. And not downplaying your achievements.

In this article, we’ll talk about self-advocacy skills and highlight self-advocacy examples you can practice in the workplace.

What is Self-Advocacy?

Self-advocacy is standing up for yourself and demanding your worth. It’s having the belief that you and your opinions matter.

To self-advocate means to speak up and promote your best interests. Advocating for yourself is becoming your biggest ally.

Why Are Self-Advocacy Skills Important?

Self-advocacy skills are important because your future depends on them. Not advocating for yourself can cost you career and job opportunities overtime.

Learning self-advocacy skills is especially important for women and unrepresented people.

Women hold only 31% of senior management roles globally as of 2021. Women of color represent only 4% of C-Level roles in the U.S. as of 2018.

A culture where women are expected to “be nice” and “stay humble” can be partially responsible for these stats.

That said, advocating for yourself helps you fight for your rights and break barriers.

10 Self-Advocacy Examples

1. Believing you deserve it

Self-advocacy starts with your mindset. If you’re not convinced that you’re worthy of good things. It’ll be hard to get others to believe in you.

This isn’t to be confused with entitlement. Get to the bottom of any insecurities preventing you from being your biggest advocate.

To help with this, we recommend using an activity we teach at NetWerk® called the “Interrogation Exercise.”

It involves questioning your limiting beliefs until you uncover the truth behind your issue.

Here are some questions to help you interrogate your beliefs:

Why do I believe this?
What do the facts say?
What else might be causing this?
What proof do I have to support this belief?
Did I assume positive intent?

2. Shamelessly asking for what you want

Closed mouths don’t get fed. Be shameless about asking for what you want. When you don’t ask. The answer is always ‘no.’

When you ask for what you want. And don’t get a response. Don’t be so quick to give up. No response doesn’t mean ‘no.’ Follow up until you get a response. Never apologize for your desires. Especially those involving your career success.

3. Practicing positive self-talk

There’s no room for beating yourself up if you want to be your biggest advocate. We all make mistakes. Show yourself the same grace you show others.

Next time you mess up. Give yourself a deadline for dwelling on the mistake. Then move on. Replace self-defeating words with positive affirmations. Do this until it becomes second nature.

4. Tracking your accomplishments

It’s hard to practice self-advocacy if you don’t understand what value you offer. That’s why tracking your accomplishments is important.

A brag book can help with that. It’s perfect if you struggle to speak up about your wins. A brag book is a journal that helps track your professional achievements, compliments, and results.

5. Asking for help when you need it

Don’t put pressure on yourself to have all the answers. Let others help you. Practice saying “I don’t know. Let me find out who does.”

Admitting when you need help and asking for it, is a self-advocacy skill. You show up for yourself by letting others show up for you.

Normalize receiving help. Consider this an act of self-love, which comes with self-advocacy.

6. Standing up for yourself

You advocate for yourself by taking a stand on issues that concern you.

If someone takes credit for your work — say something. If you find out someone in your position is making more money than you — address it.

How you go about standing up for yourself matters. Only address issues when you’re calm. Gather your facts first. And always think win-win.

Check out our article on Classy Ways to Tell Someone Professionally at Work!

7. Being highly visible

You’re likely doing a great job at work. But if no one notices you. It doesn’t matter. This is why being highly visible is a self-advocacy skill.

If you wanna increase your visibility, do things that help you get noticed for the right reasons.

Take on high-visibility projects that can upgrade your career. And share your knowledge with others at work.

8. Finding sponsors to help advocate for you

It’s one thing to toot your own horn. But if you can get others to toot it for you. It’s a game-changer.

A career sponsor can advocate for you in spaces you don’t have access to.

Find people in your industry whose opinions carry weight. Get to know them and add value first. Then make the big ask.

9. Showing up in situations where you can advocate for yourself

Self-advocacy involves being present in situations where you can advocate for yourself.

It means attending events in your industry. Going to those “optional” work functions. And expanding your network.

If you’re absent in spaces where decisions are made. You can’t truly advocate for yourself.

10. Becoming an expert in your field

There are levels to self-advocacy. Becoming a go-to expert in your field is one of the highest forms of self-advocacy.

What topics are people always coming to you for? What can you do better than most? Brand yourself as the go-to expert on that topic and get the word out.

There are many ways to make your expertise known. You can offer your knowledge at work, in your community, or on social media.