Many women struggle to advocate for themselves, especially when it comes to career advancement. I didn't have a problem advocating for myself, but I wasn't doing it well!
As a result I was working my butt off, but not being recognized for my great ideas. I wasn't being seen as someone who was ready for the next level.
These are 2 separate problems with the same solution:
- How do you advocate for yourself in a way that feels good?
- How do you advocate for yourself in a way that's effective?
Demonstrating you're ready for the next level is more than just asking for the promotion. Yes, you should do this, but you should also be sharing information regularly to ensure once you're ready to ask, your manager is ready to say yes.
And this is exactly what I want to dive into in today's newsletter. I'll share:
- Why we find advocating for ourselves so challenging
- Why we need to do it anyways
- 4 tips to show your boss you're ready, in a way that's easy and impactful
Let's do it!
Why do women struggle to advocate for themselves?
If you struggle here, you're not alone. And it's no wonder that we find it challenging. Most of us have been conditioned from a young age NOT to do this!
We were praised for being obedient and quiet. We were raised to be nice and polite. We were told to respect our elders.
And when we complied, we were rewarded.
So not only does it feel uncomfortable, but when we force ourselves to advocate anyways, it's often awkward and doesn't come across the way we want it to. Maybe we sound too abrasive or just don't make a solid case for ourselves.
If any of this sounds like you, I'm here to remind you that this isn't your fault! You've had zero practice. But that's about to change.
Time to start advocating, ladies.
As uncomfortable as it may be, learning this skill may be the difference between ending up in a VP role and staying stuck where you are. This isn't because your boss is a jerk or because there's a game you need to play… it's much simpler than that.
If you haven't told them, chances are your boss doesn't know:
- What exactly you want to achieve in your career (or as your next step)
- All of the great things you're doing today
So how on earth are they supposed to promote you?
When I was a director, I remember one of my junior employees coming into my office in tears, because she hadn't been considered for a new role we opened up on the team. The truth is, when I'd asked her what she wanted to do career-wise, she had always said she didn't know, and based on our conversations, I assumed she wasn't interested.
The same goes for you and that next promotion. It's never too early to have a conversation with your manager about your career aspirations, so they can help you identify gaps you need to fill in order to get there. This also puts your goals on their radar.
But the truth is, demonstrating you're ready for the next step takes more than just asking for a promotion. You want to build a habit of sharing wins and information to set the stage for this conversation.
So the same principle applies when it comes to demonstrating you're ready for that next step through sharing wins and accomplishments. Don't expect them to know all of the great things you're doing! They have a ton going on and probably aren't thinking about you 24-7.
When you learn to do this effectively, you make it easy for them to help you.
How to start demonstrating your value today
I've got good news for you:
Even if you've struggled to advocate for yourself up to this point, or you just aren't having any luck, fear not. This is a trait you can develop.
Here are 4 tips to help you get started:
1. Create visibility into what you're doing
As I mentioned above, there's a good chance your manager isn't fully aware of all of the great things you're doing and success you're creating. That's because they have so much to think about, that things get missed.
Make it easy for them! Share a weekly report with metrics, updates (aka your wins) and other key information that will make their life easier.
2. Share actionable insights regularly
Don't wait for your manager to ask you to solve a problem, instead, bring them new ideas that can improve the function or create additional success.
Demonstrating that you're thinking about the bigger picture vs. just your area tells your manager you are senior leadership material.
3. Learn to present effectively
Every now and then you'll get an opportunity to present a new idea to your boss or a project update to the leadership team. Knock it out of the park.
Get great at storytelling and framing things effectively. Project confidence and be aware of voice tone and body language.
One stellar presentation may be all it takes to get on the radar of key executives.
4. Build connections internally
When your name comes up in a leadership meeting, what do you want to happen? What would you like people to say? Do other important execs even know who you are?
It's important not leave your future in one person's hands, yet many do this. They rely solely on their manager, which is a mistake. That person may leave, get fired, or just not see your full value.
Build connections with other executives within the company and ensure they get value from it when they interact with you.
So there you have it – 4 tips you can start implementing on Monday to demonstrate you're ready for that next step. Good luck!
Until next time friends… ✌️💜
Katy
PS. Interested in having me as your personal mentor to help you get to that next level? Doors are opening soon for the next cohort of my exclusive group program where we work together to get you there. DM me “VP-Ready” on LinkedIn if you want to skip the line and grab a spot!
