“It’s literally impossible to be a woman…You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean… You have to be a career woman, but also always be looking out for other people.”
— Barbie, the movie
According to a study conducted by Indeed, 73% of women surveyed expressed fear they would be perceived negatively for self-advocating, and 43% feared retribution for self-advocacy.
Advocating for your career is a vital skill, especially for women navigating industries that have historically been dominated by men. Self-advocacy is critical for advancing your career and unlocking new opportunities. This journey involves mastering your craft and ensuring that your contributions are recognized, your voice is heard, and your career progresses as you envision it. Research indicates several factors can create barriers for women when they advocate for themselves.
In the ILTACON session, “Women Who Lead: Advocating for Your Career at Any Stage,” panelists Julia Montgomery (Associate Member), Ashley Byrne Smith (Troutman Pepper), Martha Gleason Voice (Amplify Your Voice), Monique Mavour (Holland & Knight LLP), and Heather Morrow (Loeb & Loeb LLP) shared their personal experiences, lessons learned, and the following practical strategies to help you find and use your voice.
- Perspective-Taking. Spend time examining the situation through the eyes of the other person and frame up your ask in a way that can benefit them. Data suggests leveraging perspective-taking during self-advocacy increases the chances of women being perceived as assertive but likable.
- Signal Flexibility. Come to the table with more than one path to “yes” for what you want. Research shows giving people options rather than presenting a single ask with a single yes/no path lowers defenses and helps maintain likability while still being assertive.
- Ask for Advice/Help. Frame up your desired outcome…and then ask for advice. “If you were trying to accomplish X, how would you go about it?” This can help address the self-promotion double-bind: don’t advertise and go unnoticed; advertise and risk being perceived as unlikable.
- Be Specific. When negotiating for a raise, be specific and highlight your accomplishments: “In my time with the company, I have accomplished X, which has resulted in X improvement. As a result, I think a salary increase of X is appropriate.”
- Find Your “Three Words.” These are the words you want your colleagues and higher-ups to use when talking about you — especially when you’re not in the room.
- Leverage Your (Clifton) Strengths. Learn how to use your superpowers to ignite your authentic leadership voice.
- Focus on Your One Thing. What’s the one thing you need to do this month to move forward? What do you need to do? What do you need to believe? What do you need to become? Where do you need support?
- Adopt Phrases that allow you to say “yes” without the additional workload, and nothing should be “above/below your paygrade.”
- Celebrate Your Wins and Set Your Own Goals. Don’t rely on others to trumpet your good work, and don’t assume others know about your awesome stuff.
- Ask for What You Want. Be confident and specific in your request. Consider having alternatives in your back pocket to help continue the conversation beyond initial resistance.
Advocating for your career doesn’t end when you reach the top; it extends to helping others along their journey. One of the key takeaways from this session is that women should be allies for other women. When a woman advocates for another woman, she doesn’t get the pushback she does when she advocates for herself. Pay it forward by mentoring and sponsoring other women in your organization. Share your experiences, offer guidance, and help them navigate the challenges you once faced.
Advocating for others strengthens one’s leadership legacy and creates a ripple effect that can lead to broader systemic change. When women support each other, they build a more robust, more equitable workforce for future generations.
The session concluded with the attendees being introduced to Thistle Farms, a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to helping women survivors recover from prostitution, trafficking, and addiction. They do this by providing a safe place to live, a meaningful job, and a lifelong sisterhood of support. Thistle Farms offered a variety of products made by the women in the program available for purchase. When we invest in women, entire communities heal.
Advocating for your career is a continuous process that evolves as you progress through different stages of your professional life. From building confidence and networking at the start of your career to embracing leadership and championing diversity later on, self-advocacy is key to achieving your goals and advancing your career.
For women, advocating for yourself is not just about securing promotions or salary increases; it’s about creating a career that aligns with your values, leverages your strengths, and contributes to a more inclusive and equitable workplace. By mastering the art of self-advocacy, you empower yourself to take control of your career and pave the way for future generations of women in the workforce.
Vicki LaBrosse, director of global public relations for Edge Marketing, Inc., works with clients to develop and execute comprehensive PR and marketing strategies that help them grow their businesses.