Self-advocacy in the Workplace
Speaking up for oneself in the workplace can be challenging, let alone anxiety-provoking and/or fear-producing. Most people, if not all, have dealt with the challenges and emotions that result from sharing issues or concerns. Or people suppose this will be the case based on the company culture, including actual or perceived negativity or threats, or limited to no support available to them by those in leadership. Due to this, many people choose to remain silent. It’s possible that support is promised verbally or in writing by leadership but not practiced in reality. Maybe you’ve ventured in the uncertain territories of self-advocacy only to find this to be the case.
When thinking of the issues or concerns that could be brought up in the workplace, I think of matters that are especially important to workers - workplace conditions, environment, culture, pay, benefits, communication, training, advancement, leadership, purpose, growth, and work-life balance, to name a few, and not in any particular order of priority. One might argue that these are the sorts of things that one would or should look into before accepting a position. Another might argue that people are influenced by certain offerings, with the understanding that it may not be an entirely perfect fit. For some, pay could have been a motivating factor. For others, it was the company’s values that drew them. Maybe it was the chance to earn additional experience. It could be something completely different for someone else. Or it’s possible all of the boxes were checked but they later learned of problems that weren’t as apparent before. Perhaps there was an emergence of situations that came up beyond anyone’s control. There are a number of reasons why staff might need to voice issues or concerns. This is also relevant for contractors and consultants who may find even greater challenges in some ways because they were hired for a particular task but do not have access to some of the same benefits as permanent employees. In these circumstances it may take more work on the part of the company and its leaders to ensure that they communicate that everyone is valued and heard.
Despite the best of intentions at times, there may still be a need for self-advocacy. How does one speak up, especially when there’s limited or no support for doing so?
I would like to propose some questions to consider when practicing self-advocacy:
What is the issue or concern?
Do you have a proposed solution?
If you have a proposed solution, would you offer ways to implement it? Or are you aware of others within the team or company who could provide related support, maybe who you could partner with?
If you are unclear of where to turn or how to resolve the issue or concern, are you aware of individuals in leadership who you can speak to about your issues or concerns? As well, are there individuals in positions of influence (not necessarily in a formal leadership role) who can help advocate on your behalf?
As previously noted, self-advocacy can be anxiety-provoking and/or fear-producing. You never know if others, and leadership in particular, will be receptive to what you have to share. Will you be ostracized? Will you be retaliated against? This should not be the case in a healthy organization.However, this is also assuming that the people who make up the organization practice healthy messaging. There is also a lot to be said about presenting the information that you have to share in a way that is clear, consistent, and effective. You may have heard it said before that you should always present a problem with a solution, however I believe that everyone brings unique gifts and abilities and all have a part to play. It may not be realistic to expect everyone to have a solution. What’s most important is having the room and opportunity to express what is working or what isn’t and to ensure ultimately that you’re able to do your best work, which contributes to the overall success of the organization.
What might you advocate for within your respective role(s) or organization? How would you advocate for yourself and/or others?
I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to share a comment or reach out if you’d like to connect, have questions, or are interested in partnering.
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