Tips for Self-Advocacy in the Workplace

One of the hardest lessons I’ve learned in my career is this: No one will advocate for you the way you can advocate for yourself. When I first entered the professional world, I thought my work would speak for itself. I believed that if I put my head down, worked hard, and delivered great results, recognition and opportunities would naturally follow. But here’s what I discovered: While hard work is essential, visibility is just as important. It took observing how others approached their careers to realize this: The people who often get ahead aren’t just hardworking — they’re intentional about making their contributions known. They speak up in meetings, share their goals openly, and make sure their achievements don’t go unnoticed. That realization changed the way I approached my career. I began to see the importance of not just doing the work, but owning my voice and advocating for myself. Here’s what I’ve learned along the way about self-advocacy: 1. Track your accomplishments. I started keeping a journal where I noted key projects, results, and positive feedback. When performance reviews came around, I didn’t have to scramble to prove my value. I had it documented. 2. Ask for what you need. Whether it’s a promotion, mentorship, resources, or even a clearer direction, I learned to be upfront about my goals. 3. Speak up. This was the hardest for me. I used to hold back, worried my ideas weren’t “good enough.” But I realized that staying silent wasn’t helping anyone, not me, not my team, and not the organization. Advocating for yourself isn’t about arrogance or entitlement, it’s about honoring your value. It’s about recognizing that your hard work, skills, and ideas are worth being seen, heard, and rewarded. If I could go back and tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: Don’t wait for someone else to notice your potential. Take the first step. Speak up. Celebrate your wins. Ask for what you need. Your career is yours to build, and no one else will fight for it as fiercely as you can. #StephSynergy

I spent too many years thinking my boss was responsible for my career. Or the company. Or a magical fairy godmother. I thought it was everyone else’s job to advocate for me. To push me. To help me advance and grow. And I completely missed the fact that it was me. It was always ME. Our job is to be the biggest advocate for our careers. We are in the driver’s seat. And we can’t take a back seat and expect someone else to do the driving. Here are ten ways to start advocating for your career not tomorrow, TODAY: 1️⃣ Take a seat at front of the table, not at the back of the room. Be visible. Log onto that Zoom early, make sure people know you are there. Don’t shrink to the corner of the screen or room. 2️⃣ Raise your hand 🙋🏾♀️ Ask that question. Show you’re engaged and thoughtful and there to contribute. I always ask a question early on in the meeting to build my confidence to contribute more later. 3️⃣ Ask to be put on that assignment Make sure you are working on assignments that are priorities for the company. Especially in this market. 4️⃣ Coach your peers on their work You don’t have to have direct reports to have influence. Guide peers who ask for your help: position yourself for the next level by acting like you are at the next level. 5️⃣ Build a career development plan If your boss won’t help you do this, ask a colleague to be a sounding boarding or a friend outside of work. Understand what your goals are this year and what you want your next two roles to be. 6️⃣ Focus on one new skill you want to build What’s one new skill you want to learn that can help with your career growth? Pick it and commit to it. Block 30 minutes on your calendar daily to work on it. Make this time non negotiable. 7️⃣ Take credit for your work Even if they won’t let you in that meeting, share what you are working on with others. Whether that’s it in 1:1 conversations or in team meetings, make sure you let others know the impact you are making. 8️⃣ Get meaningful feedback If your boss keeps saying you’re killing it or avoids giving your feedback, ask others. Show up with what you think your strengths are and areas of opportunity to get their reactions. 9️⃣ Keep a track of your wins Start a Google doc or grab a notebook, and down all of your wins and the end of every month. This makes it easier to do your self evaluation during performance review time and update your resume. 🔟 Always have your resume ready Whether you are looking for internal or external, always have your resume ready. And make sure it’s not saved on your work lap, especially in this market where layoffs are happening every day. How do you advocate for yourself at work? #leadership #culture #inclusion #MitaMallick

Yesterday I led a workshop for women in private equity, and one theme kept surfacing: self-advocacy feels impossible when you’re already fighting to belong. It's the paradox these women face every day. They need to speak up more to get noticed, but when they do, they risk being labeled “aggressive.” They need to promote their wins, but they’ve been socialized to let their work speak for itself. They need to build relationships and visibility, but the informal networks often happen in spaces where they’re not invited. Nevertheless, self-advocacy isn’t optional, especially for women working in male-dominated industries. Research shows that women’s contributions are systematically attributed to others, that our ideas need to be repeated by men to be heard, and that our expertise is questioned more frequently than our male colleagues’. Self-advocacy isn’t about being pushy or aggressive. It’s about being intentional with your voice and strategic about your visibility. Here are four concrete ways to advocate for yourself starting today: 1. Master the “credit redirect” When someone repeats your idea, immediately respond with: “Thanks, John. I’m glad you’re building on the solution I proposed earlier. Let me expand on that framework…” This reclaims YOUR ownership while maintaining professionalism. 2. Document your wins in real-time Keep a “victory log” on your phone. After every meeting where you contribute, jot down what you said and any positive responses. Reference these specifics in performance reviews and promotion conversations. 3. Practice strategic amplification Find one trusted colleague who will amplify your contributions in meetings. Agree to do the same for them. When they share an idea, respond with: “Sarah’s point about the data analysis is exactly right, and it connects to…” This mutual support system works. 4. Lose the “self-shrinking” language.  Stop saying “I’m sorry to bother you.” Stop saying “Maybe we could…” Stop saying “I’m wondering if…” Stop saying “I’ll make it quick.” Take up space. Make your mark. Trust that you and your ideas are worthy of other people’s time, energy, and attention (and most certainly your own as well.) The reality is that in many industries, we’re still fighting to be heard. But we don’t have to fight alone, and we don’t have to wait for permission to advocate for ourselves. Your ideas deserve to be heard and you deserve credit for the value you bring. What’s one way you’ve learned to advocate for yourself at work? The women in yesterday’s workshop had some brilliant strategies to share too. #womenleaders #privateequity #womeninmaledominatedindustries

Self-advocacy in the workplace can be really uncomfortable. Yesterday, I talked about why that is for people who are socialized as women. (Read that first if you want to stop judging yourself for why it is so hard!) If you want to advocate for yourself more often, you can both (a) decrease your discomfort with doing it and (b) expand your capacity for taking action despite your discomfort. Here are some ways to get started: 1️⃣ Change the way you think about yourself and talk to yourself. One way to start doing this is to regularly and actively sell yourself on your value, skills, knowledge, and accomplishments. Keep a running list of ways in which you add value at work (that don’t include how much or how hard you work), skills you have, areas where you have knowledge or expertise, and things you’ve accomplished. Be specific. Nothing is too inconsequential to go on the list. Refer back to it regularly. Add on to it regularly. Journal on it. Think about how you would perceive that woman if she weren’t you. This can help you shift whatever your current narrative is about yourself, AND confirmation bias will start to work in your favor. Your brain will start to look for evidence that confirms the new narrative, instead of whatever your current negative narrative is about yourself.  2️⃣ Practice discomfort in small doses to build your capacity for taking action despite discomfort. Some options: Create a support system. Find a colleague, have coffee once a week, and share your wins, why you add value at work, and why you are great at what you do. Even this will probably be uncomfortable at first if you aren’t used to advocating for yourself. So creating a safe space where you can practice helps build your tolerance for (and ultimately will lessen the overall discomfort you feel). Start sharing your accomplishments with your manager or boss via email on a regular basis (don’t wait for your annual review to roll around). In person communication can feel scarier than sending something in writing. Side note: This is a win/win situation. It can only benefit your boss or supervisor to know that the people they are supervising are crushing it. It makes them look good. Find small ways to promote yourself. For example: Does your company have a company-wide or external newsletter where wins are shared? Does it make social media posts about employee wins? Find a win you could promote and draft something for your company to share. Another win/win situation that benefits you and your company. Start building in small boundaries. Start pausing before you say “yes” to anything and say “no” to lower stakes things more often (and decide in advance that you are going to say “no” to those kinds of things). Turn off phone and email notifications. Block off 20 minutes of time for yourself or an hour to do deep work. Stop automatically accepting meeting invites. What other tips do you have for folks who want to start advocating for themselves?

Beyond the Brag: Building Your "Impact Portfolio" Before Promo Season Hits It's promo season at Google, and I'm helping colleagues craft their promo packets. This behind-the-scenes look reveals a crucial truth: building your "impact portfolio" before the pressure hits is key. The promo process at Google (and many other companies) involves telling a compelling story of your contributions, backed by evidence, to convince peers you deserve a promotion. It can sometimes feel like bragging. But waiting until promo season to gather evidence is like cramming for a final exam. Instead, let's approach our careers with a continuous "impact portfolio" mindset. ✨ Capture "Impact Moments" Regularly ✨ Don't wait for formal reviews. As you complete projects, launch initiatives, or solve complex problems, document the key details: what you did, the impact it had, and any quantifiable results. Think of it as your own personal "highlight reel." ✨ Reframe "Bragging" as Storytelling ✨ Self-advocacy isn't about showing-off; it's about telling a compelling story of your contributions. Focus on the "why" behind your work and the value it created. ✨ Seek Feedback Beyond Performance Reviews ✨ Proactively ask for feedback throughout the year. Not just on what you did, but on how you did it. This provides valuable insights into your strengths and areas for growth. ✨ Build Your Network ✨ Your network is your extended "impact portfolio." People who have witnessed your contributions firsthand can be powerful advocates. Nurture those relationships. ✨ Quantify Your Impact ✨ Whenever possible, use numbers and data to illustrate your accomplishments. "Increased efficiency by X%," "Saved the team Y hours," "Led to Z revenue." These metrics make your impact tangible. The goal isn't just to ace the promo packet. It's to build a consistent narrative of impact that reflects your growth and value over time. When it comes time to advocate for yourself, you won't be scrambling to remember your accomplishments. You'll have a rich portfolio of evidence, ready to tell your story. If you haven't started building your impact portfolio, there's no better time than now. Your future self will thank you.

They’ll never know unless you tell them. At work, your silence is invisible. Your achievements won’t speak for themselves. Your boss has bigger fires to fight. HR isn’t tracking your growth story. If you don’t advocate for yourself, no one else will. Waiting quietly for recognition is not a career strategy — it’s a trap. But here’s the challenge: How do you let people know what you’re doing without looking like a show-off or making it awkward? Here are 5 subtle things that I've seen work: [1] Use “we” language, but highlight your contribution. When recapping a project win, say: “The team pulled off a great launch — and personally, I learnt a lot when I solved X challenge.” This balances teamwork and personal credit. [2] Share your learnings, not just your outcomes. Instead of “I crushed this target,” say, “This quarter taught me a lot about solving Y — happy to share tips if anyone’s tackling similar issues.” You position yourself as helpful, not boastful. [3] Update your manager regularly — even if they don’t ask. Send a brief, structured update (weekly or monthly) summarizing wins, progress, and next steps. You’re not bragging — you’re keeping them informed. [4] Talk about impact, not just effort. It’s not “I worked late every night,” it’s “The extra analysis I ran helped us uncover an overlooked cost-saving opportunity.” People care about outcomes, not hours. [5] Make sure your LinkedIn (and internal profiles) reflect your best work. Many managers do check — give them something accurate and impressive to find. Remember: Your career doesn’t advance just because you work hard. It advances because people know the value you bring. Speak up — thoughtfully, strategically, and often. #career #work #business #life

🚨 PSA: No one is going to advocate for your career like you will. 🚨 Here’s the truth: Your peers, your manager, and the company leadership team don’t automatically see how hard you’re working or the impact you’re making. They’re busy. If you want to control your career trajectory, you need to start advocating for yourself—early and often. This isn’t about bragging. It’s about ensuring your contributions are seen, valued, and aligned with opportunities for growth. Why Don’t We Do This Already? 1️⃣ We assume good work speaks for itself. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t. Hard work without visibility often goes unnoticed. 2️⃣ We fear sounding boastful. Advocating for yourself isn’t arrogance—it’s accountability. Own your impact. 3️⃣ We don’t know where to start. Building this habit can feel overwhelming, but trust me, it’s easier than you think. How I Made the Shift 1️⃣ I wrote everything down. Every win, big or small, got documented. A successful project, a customer success story, or even streamlining a process—if it had an impact, I captured it. 2️⃣ I started small. In my 1:1s with my boss, I began sharing my wins casually: “Hey, this week I was able to [impactful result].” Over time, it became second nature. 3️⃣ I connected my work to company goals. I didn’t just stop at, “Here’s what I did.” I linked it to business outcomes: increased NRR, improved customer retention, or streamlined processes that saved time. The Results? Opportunities started coming to me. Promotions, stretch assignments, and visibility within the organization—because people knew the value I brought to the table. How Can You Start Advocating for Yourself Today? 1️⃣ Keep a brag book. Document your wins regularly. Even the small ones matter—they add up to big results. 2️⃣ Practice sharing in safe spaces. Use your 1:1s to test the waters. Share a recent success and frame it around its impact. 3️⃣ Speak the language of business outcomes. Tie your work to metrics that matter: revenue, retention, efficiency. This makes your impact impossible to ignore. If you’re waiting for someone to notice your hard work, stop. You are your own best advocate—and the sooner you take ownership of that, the faster your career will grow. So, tell me—what’s one way you’ve started advocating for your career? Or what’s holding you back?

After a decade of sitting in manager meetings, delivering reviews, and coaching others through them, I’ve learned what makes—or breaks—an annual review: Here are 7 practical things you can do right now: 1/ Make it easy for your manager to advocate for you. Don’t just list tasks. Show outcomes. Show business impact. Make the case clear and compelling. 2/ When asking for peer reviews, give them a purpose. Are you aiming for a promo? A stretch project? Let them know. It’ll help them speak to the right strengths that support your goals. 3/ Show how you’re already performing at the next level. As Webflow CEO Linda Tong shared with me in my book, leaders want to see you performing at the next level already. Highlight those moments where you took on leadership, strategic decisions, or tough projects. 4/ Cut the fluff. Don’t list every task you did. Focus on the 20% of projects that drove 80% of results. 5/ Ask your manager to pre-review it. I did this for my teams — help them advocate for themselves in the most impactful way possible. 6/ Anticipate challenges. If there’s a project that didn’t go well, address it. Share what you learned and how you’ve applied those lessons. It builds trust. 7/ Compare across quarters. Show how you’ve grown — not just what you did this cycle. We’re prone to the recency effect. Progress tells a powerful story. 𝗣.𝗦. It’s your career. Own your review.

Nobody is coming to save your career. I watched a talented colleague wait three years for someone to notice her work. She delivered excellent results and assumed her manager would eventually advocate for her promotion. He never did. When she finally spoke up about wanting to advance, he seemed genuinely surprised. He had no idea she was interested in moving up. This happens more than you think. Your manager is juggling their own pressures. HR is focused on keeping the machine running. Executives are looking at bottom lines, not individual contributors. You're not being ignored on purpose. People just don't know what you want. If you're not speaking up about your accomplishments and your career aspirations, why would someone else? Being your own advocate means: 1/ Documenting your wins and sharing them regularly. ↳ Not once a year during review. Consistently. 2/ Asking directly for the opportunities you want. ↳ Hoping someone will offer it to you is not a strategy. 3/ Talking about your career goals out loud. ↳ If you want to move into leadership, say it. If you want to shift to a different department, make it known. 4/ Requesting feedback and actually using it to improve. ↳ This shows you're serious about growth. 5/ Building relationships across departments. ↳ Make sure people know who you are and what you're capable of. You can transform your career by simply starting to advocate for yourself. Better projects, more significant promotions, a seat at the table. Your career growth is your responsibility. Shout your goals and achievements from the rooftop! 🩵 _____ 🔔 Follow Dr. Heather Maietta - Coach for Career Coaches for celebratory career advice. ♻️ Share with a colleague to support self advocacy.

You’re great at your job. So why are you being overlooked? Ever feel like you’re working hard, delivering results, yet somehow... you’re stuck? Your boss praises your work, but when promotion time comes, you’re passed over. You see less experienced colleagues moving up while you stay in the same spot. You’re told to be “more strategic,” but no one tells you how. If this sounds familiar, here’s the hard truth: performance alone isn’t enough, you need visibility! I’ve worked with countless professionals who assumed their work would speak for itself. But the reality? If you’re not actively positioning yourself, you’re making it easy for leadership to overlook you. Ask yourself: • Can I clearly explain the impact of my work in terms leadership understands? • Am I making my achievements visible to the right people? • Have I built relationships with decision-makers who can advocate for me? If you hesitated on any of these, that might be why you’re feeling stuck. Here’s what you can do today: 1. Start tracking and framing your wins in terms of measurable impact. 2. Speak up in meetings. Not just to contribute, but to connect your work to business goals. 3. Build relationships with senior leaders who can advocate for you. --- Struggling to figure out your next step or how to position yourself for growth? Start reflecting on these questions now. Don’t wait until another year passes. If you need guidance, DM me before opportunities slip away unnecessarily.