Navigating the Paradox: Professional Self Advocacy

Unprecedented Opportunities… And Lessons

 

Whilst we have unprecedented opportunities and prospects that only a few decades ago seemed unmanageable, occupational discrimination by gender remains entrenched. We are still often paid less than our male counterparts. We are at times penalized for taking time off to have children or even judged harshly for choosing our careers over having a family. We remain underrepresented in leadership roles across various industries, often limiting our influence and decision-making power. We tend to ask for and receive less to support our professional development and endeavors than our male counterparts, too.

 

Thankfully though, many employers have recognized the importance of a more diverse, well-rounded workforce, leading to more progressive workplace policies and even cultural shifts. Flexibility and initiatives to address gender bias are becoming more commonplace, making it all a little easier for us. These changes have come about because we’ve advocated well for one another (alongside our male allies). But as individuals, we also have to self-advocate. Let’s look at what that really entails.

 

To self-advocate means to speak up and promote your best interests. We know it's important, but it can still be daunting. However, the harsh reality is that women work in competitive environments. Your career trajectory is obviously and inextricably linked to your ability to do your job, which isn’t always the case for our male counterparts (who more often than us receive promotions and projects based on things outside the bounds of meritocracy).

 

In order to level the playing field, it’s not about advocating just for your own needs, but your own needs relative to business outcomes. The work itself doesn’t care about your gender, so start advocating on behalf of it. In other words, tie your needs and contributions to results. Above all else, this requires clarity: What exactly are you advocating for? Why? What are your desired outcomes? To what end and to what advantage? Whose advantage? What do you actually need? How long for? What are you asking for that’s not standard? Where’s the risk? Why are you specifically asking for these things? What have you realized that others have not? The key is to be prepared and be fact-based. 

 

Another thing that isn’t spoken about enough is the fact you can make bad decisions and gain good results, but equally so, you can make good decisions and have bad results. In fact, the more skill you have, the more the role of luck matters. Similarly, we cannot only attribute our successes to our skill and our failures to bad luck or vice versa. So even if something goes awry after successful self-advocacy, this is not cause enough to doubt the practice nor let it impact your confidence. There’s a human tendency to equate the quality of a decision with the quality of its outcome – it’s not helpful. A better habit is to checklist what you are asking for then cross reference it with what you got, how you put those things to work/used them to your advantage, what you could’ve done differently and what external influences had a hand in the outcome. Build your lessons learned around those sorts of facts.

 

 

The Path Forward

 

In conclusion, the paradox of being a woman in the professional world today reflects both progress and the challenges. While it's easier than ever for women to enter various industries, the journey to full gender equality is still an ongoing one. Self-advocacy, reductively, is self-confidence shown in your asks and your strategy and its paramount to success, for men and women alike. Moreover, self-advocacy is best accompanied by clarity and a strong decision-making process, not your subjective feelings. It is also a two-way street that benefits both employees and employers.