US congress woman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez recently made a video that went viral when she responded to what she deemed as a “faux apology” from her fellow member of the US congress, Ted Yoho. You can see the video HERE.
As I watched this video, it made me realize that although one of the key advantages to AOC’s self advocacy have been her high media profile and the impact that comes with that, it has also left her as a target from those who have long inhabited the establishment.
You can draw parallels between this scenario and the workplace, where from the outside looking in it might appear that a company is diverse but in reality, the people in the company respond with hostility, making it clear that diverse people do not belong in the environment. Sometimes this is explicit but usually it isn’t. It typically shows up in the projects you have access to, promotional prospects, salary etc.
As challenging and risky as it can be to be a self advocate, it is something that matters, both on an individual level and at a corporate level, because the ultimate benefits outweigh any potential risks.
First from a mental health standpoint, being able to express how you feel and request what you need to be successful in your role.
Beyond that it is worth considering the compound effect of asking for a higher salary, for a promotion that you deserve, to be put on projects that are of interest to you, to speak up on things that need to ensure that there is not only greater diversity in your workplace but that actions are taken for everyone to feel like they belong.
Here are 10 tips to becoming a better self advocate
- Do great work, don’t check out before you check out
- Do your research and network with people in your industry so that you can have a better gauge on salaries, promotional criteria in different companies and opportunities all around
- Master your mindset – A positive attitude and an abundance mindset is so important to positioning you for a great outcome because it impacts how you show up
- Communicate effectively – Self advocacy does not have to be a combative affair, you can do it effectively without being emotional about it
- Set clear goals on your ideal outcome – Be clear in your mind about what success looks like for you
For the rest of the tips on self advocacy, please listen to this episode by clicking on the link above.
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To listen to the other analysis I did earlier in the summer, on the interaction between Christian Cooper and Amy Cooper, listen to episode 3 here.
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