Advocate for Your Growth!

I had a discussion with a peer this week - another longtime life coach who is a dear friend of mine.

We were chatting about advocating for yourself in leadership spaces, and how important it is to grow as a leader - but how challenging it can be when you work on your own.

It can be challenging to step into a leadership role, such as speaking, coaching, or teaching. It takes a new kind of bravery to come into a space and work with a group of people, who are looking to you for advice and guidance.

In my experience, one of the most important parts of leadership has been advocacy. As a woman, and someone who wasn’t born in the USA, it has been imperative that I advocate for myself, and command the respect I deserve when I am in leadership spaces. Initially, I had a difficult time standing up for myself - I was very uncomfortable looking people in the eye and asking them to stop interrupting me or letting them know it was my turn to speak.

Though frightening, learning to stand up and advocate for myself has changed me as both a speaker and a coach.

It has made me more confident as a leader.

Shown me that I can set interpersonal boundaries. Allowed me to be a better coach.

Proven that I have more strength than I initially thought.

I’ll never claim that it is easy - but it’s been worth every ounce of effort.

Tell me in the comments - what benefits have you seen from advocating for yourself?