…Advocacy?

Over my years of coaching, I have noticed that there tend to be themes among my clients, even though they often don’t know each other or their experiences.

The theme this month has been advocacy - with many of my 1-2-1 clients expressing fatigue, individuals in their lives overstepping boundaries, or issues with school/work/family, that require some level of advocacy. I gave a presentation to a SHRM group last week about workplace advocacy. Heck, even some of my teens/parents have mentioned the same thing, and it came up in a group session at the beginning of the month!

Our culture often encourages young people not to advocate for themselves - with the rise of email and instant messaging, people are often expected to be glued to their phones, ready to respond at a ping’s notice. Social media and TV streaming have also encouraged people to seek instant gratification - furthering boundary-pushing behavior, and unreasonable expectations.

Interestingly enough, life coaching has been shown to improve people’s ability to advocate, both for themselves and for others! A research study conducted in 2021 showed that in order to effectively advocate for themselves, people must be taught these skills directly. This can be through a teacher, a parent, or surprise! A life coach! Not only that - research conducted by Emory University showed that self-advocacy was one of the most important factors, alongside resiliency, for success in the workforce, and in leadership-specific roles. Self-advocacy is a skill that you shouldn’t underestimate!

I find this to be especially true in our modern workforce - people must have the skills to set boundaries with their employer, or they may see their work performance begin to suffer. Being on the clock 24/7, always taking unpaid overtime, or going above and beyond for someone who wouldn't do the same for you is a recipe for burnout - and burnout is not conducive to long-term career success.

I pose a question to you this week my lovely newsletter readers - what’s one way you can advocate for yourself in the workplace? Or if not at work, with your family or friends?

I understand how challenging it can be - and you may have no idea where to start. If you’re wondering how to begin, please reach out to me! I have free consultations available, and there is ZERO commitment afterward. It may help you figure out what you need, or find a good place to start. I’m happy to chat with you and see where your journey begins.

LDAOeng. (2021, May 7). Explicit Instruction of Self-Advocacy Skills - LD@school. LD@School. https://www.ldatschool.ca/self-determination-and-self-advocacy/

Self-Advocacy and Resiliency: Essential Traits for women in leadership Roles | Emory University | Atlanta GA. (n.d.). Emory University. https://ece.emory.edu/articles-news/self-advocacy-and-resiliency.php