Here's how you can assertively advocate for yourself in the workplace.
Understanding Emotional Intelligence (EI) is crucial when advocating for oneself in a professional setting. EI refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions as well as the emotions of others. Assertiveness, a component of EI, involves expressing one's feelings, thoughts, and needs directly and respectfully. By mastering assertive communication, you can effectively advocate for yourself in the workplace without coming across as aggressive or passive.
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Marwan Seifeldin, ITIL® V4, CSM.ı|ı.CCNP Collab.ı|ı. UC Team Leader of UC CIO at Orange Business Services - (VoIP, UC, CSM, Process Management…
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Rania NakhleBusiness Administration and Management, General
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Dr. Manoj KrishnaEmpowering people to be emotionally intelligent, manage their own mental health, and have happier relationships |…
Recognizing your value is the cornerstone of self-advocacy. Before you can assert yourself, you need to believe in your contributions and understand your strengths. Reflect on your achievements and how they've benefitted your team and organization. This self-awareness will not only boost your confidence but also provide a solid foundation for articulating your worth to others. When you know your value, you can communicate your needs and desires with conviction and clarity.
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Dr. Muhammad Asif Khan, PhD , CHRP
Head People Culture Development and Business Administration, Digital Banking Group at National Bank of Pakistan
Assertively advocating for yourself in the workplace is crucial for personal and professional growth 1. Know your worth: Understand your skills, strengths, and contributions with expectation. 2. Set clear boundaries: Establish clear limits and expectations with colleagues etc. 3. Be specific and direct: Clearly state your needs and expectations. 5. Practice active listening: Listen others' perspectives and respond thoughtfully. 6. Ask for what you need: open to request for resources, support, needed. 7. Be open to feedback and compromise: Engage in constructive dialogue & Solutions 8. Maintain a positive tone: communicate politely be professional & respectful. 9. Document agreements and actions: Records of discussions and outcomes.
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Rania Nakhle
Business Administration and Management, General
Communicating Assertively in the work place is addressing topics in a straightforward honest manner while respecting others feelings and opinions. This can be very beneficial as it minimizes conflicts, increases our self confidence and enhances the relationship building process leading to Win Win situations. Knowing our Self Worth plays a major role in the success of self-advocacy, allowing us to bring to surface our own value while highlighting the positive impact of our achievements on our team as well as on our company. Clearly voicing our Needs and Concerns in the workplace can contribute to both our own Growth as well as our Company Growth, by meeting employees needs/requests we can surely increase their productivity and efficiency.
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Tatiana Barranco
Project Portfolio Manager | Agile Expert | PMP Certified | Storyteller Enthusiast
Recognizing your inherent value is crucial for confidently articulating your needs and aspirations with conviction. When we hesitate to acknowledge our own worth, we risk settling for less and allowing others to define us. This begins when external perceptions shape our beliefs, leading us to accept inaccurate narratives about our capabilities.
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Justine Douhet
International Account Manager at Limbs & Things
I find helpful to be prepared when I need to advocate for myself. Make a list of the points you want to bring up to support your claim. Don't let emotions get in the way of what you need to say. Easier said than done but I find than being confident in myself and organize my thoughts helps me being assertive. Stick to facts, and don't take things personally. The conversation needs to go both ways. Be the problem solver and ask for what you need and what you could do moving forward to keep communication open.
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Shobhana Bansal 首汉娜
LinkedIn Top Voice 💡| Talent Acquisition Manager @Ephicacy | CONNECT WITH ME - HIRING NOW
Believe in yourself, believe in your contributions, recognizing your strengths and your value. This self-reflection & self-awareness will help boost your confidence. This will better prepare us to communicate clearly and advocate for ourselves in the workplace.
Setting clear, achievable goals is essential for self-advocacy. Define what you want to accomplish in your role and what you need to get there. Whether it's a raise, a promotion, or support for a project, having concrete objectives will guide your advocacy efforts. When your goals are specific, it's easier to develop a strategic approach to communicate them. This clarity helps prevent misunderstandings and keeps the conversation focused on your professional development.
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Rania Nakhle
Business Administration and Management, General
By setting goals that focus on self-awareness and self-identity, we can learn to recognize our strengths, weaknesses, and unique qualities. This self-awareness lays the foundation for self-advocacy, as we gain a better understanding of our needs and preferences in order to be able to communicate them clearly. Our objectives are brief statements of intent that describe what we want to happen in the short-term, and usually are tied to target audience behavior, that's why these objectives need to be SMART i.e. specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
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Marwan Seifeldin, ITIL® V4, CSM
.ı|ı.CCNP Collab.ı|ı. UC Team Leader of UC CIO at Orange Business Services - (VoIP, UC, CSM, Process Management, leadership)
Always set your goals and draw a roadmap on how to get there and the possible routes that will guide you along your way. Even if this goal might be far away, but the journey of 1000 steps begins with a step so always be focused on your goals.
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Ana Amélia Nicácio
Psicóloga | Mentoria para Mulheres | Saúde Mental e Bem-estar Corporativo | Wellbeing | Qualidade de Vida | Treinamento e Desenvolvimento
Para se“defender”assertivamente no ambiente de trabalho através do estabelecimento de metas claras, observe alguns pontos: a comunicação deve ser clara e direta, garantindo que todos os envolvidos compreendam as metas estabelecidas; os prazos e resultados esperados especificados de forma realista, assegurando que haja um entendimento claro sobre o que deve ser alcançado e em que período de tempo;monitorar o progresso regularmente é essencial para avaliar o desempenho e fazer ajustes conforme necessário, mantendo o foco na obtenção dos resultados desejados. Lembre-se de documentar todas as metas e o progresso feito, de fornecer feedback regular aos envolvidos, demonstrando sua capacidade de liderança e organização.
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Eva Carrasco Ceña
Coach de Vida | Docente | NeuroCoach 🔹️ Apasionada de la Inteligencia Emocional Aplicada 🧠 ❤️=💯 🔹️ (Trans)Formación para empresas y organizaciones 🔹️ Sesiones 1:1 de Crecimiento Personal para particulares
Definir un objetivo debe de ser tan simple como para que un niño de 5 años lo pueda comprender. Para eso utiliza verbos en tiempo presente, construye frases breves y en positivo, y pon fecha límite cuando decidas comunicarlo. Esto le aportará carácter realista y viable y facilitará que se entiendan bien tus pretensiones y necesidades para lograrlas.
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Ilídio Pereira
Diretor Comercial e da Area Social na IVARE
Estabelecer metas claras é essencial para orientar suas ações e alcançar o que deseja tanto na vida pessoal quanto na carreira. Direcionamento e Foco: Metas claras proporcionam direção e foco, ajudando você a concentrar seus esforços em atividades que são realmente importantes para alcançar seus objetivos.
Empathy is a powerful tool in assertive communication. By understanding your colleagues' perspectives, you can tailor your approach to resonate with them. Empathy allows you to anticipate how your requests might be received and adjust your message accordingly. When you demonstrate that you've considered the impact of your advocacy on others, you're more likely to gain their support. Remember, asserting yourself doesn't mean disregarding the feelings and needs of your coworkers.
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Marwan Seifeldin, ITIL® V4, CSM
.ı|ı.CCNP Collab.ı|ı. UC Team Leader of UC CIO at Orange Business Services - (VoIP, UC, CSM, Process Management, leadership)
Empathy is a very powerful tool. Feeling empathy define humans and their emotions. Sometimes feeling empathy for your colleagues makes them very open to you to discuss their problems and their roadblocks.
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David Simpson III
Helping companies GROW revenue (Business Development Specialist)
Empathy makes you a good human- please don't confine it to your job. Many of the things that make us a good member of our community ALSO make us a good member of our work team.
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Ilídio Pereira
Diretor Comercial e da Area Social na IVARE
Praticar a empatia é fundamental tanto nas relações pessoais quanto no ambiente profissional. Compreensão e Respeito: Empatia permite que você compreenda os sentimentos, pensamentos e experiências dos outros. Isso promove respeito mútuo e fortalece os relacionamentos interpessoais.
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Ismael de la Rosa
Agente Autorizado Adeslas "𝓣𝓾 𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓭 𝔂 𝓫𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻 𝓮𝓷 𝓫𝓾𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓼" Admón y Gestión de seguros médicos para Empresas y Particulares.CERCANO| EMPÁTICO| HONESTO| ASERTIVO|
La empatía y la claridad en la comunicación son fundamentales para una interacción efectiva en el lugar de trabajo. Estas habilidades me permiten abordar de manera asertiva mis necesidades y objetivos, al tiempo que mantengo un respeto profundo por las necesidades de mis colegas. Al aplicar la empatía en mis conversaciones, no solo busco el apoyo para mis propuestas, sino que también contribuyo a un ambiente de trabajo más armónico y solidario.
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Eduardo da Silva
ADM & HR | Facilities & Services Mgmt | Employee & Labor Relations | Compliance | Conflit Mediation | Workplace Investigations
A comunicação é mais efetiva quando embasada na empatia. Ao conhecer seu publico alvo é possível ajustar sua comunicação, antecipar reações (e por vezes até trabalhar com essa informação de forma inteligente usando a seu favor) e conquistar apoio. Essa postura demonstra respeito e consideração, construindo um ambiente de trabalho mais positivo e produtivo. A empatia, portanto, é essencial para a prática da assertividade, exigindo do profissional autoconhecimento, adaptabilidade e aprimoramento contínuo da comunicação.
Timing can make or break your self-advocacy efforts. Look for opportunities when decision-makers are most receptive, such as during performance reviews or after the successful completion of a project. Avoid times of high stress or heavy workloads when your message might not get the attention it deserves. By choosing the right moment, you increase the likelihood that your concerns will be heard and addressed.
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Juan Carlos Flores Merino
Socio director en ACCTÚA
Generalmente se habla de oportunidad (lenguaje marino que significa llegar a puerto) en términos de tiempo. Yo considero que junto con el tiempo, tiene que ver el estado emocional o de ánimo de las partes, para saber si ambas están en el adecuado para poder hablar y escucharse. Ni muy rápido ni muy despacio..... Oportuno significa que ambas partes estén en disposición y hayan gestionado sus emociones de tal forma que puedan responder y no reaccionar.
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Eva Carrasco Ceña
Coach de Vida | Docente | NeuroCoach 🔹️ Apasionada de la Inteligencia Emocional Aplicada 🧠 ❤️=💯 🔹️ (Trans)Formación para empresas y organizaciones 🔹️ Sesiones 1:1 de Crecimiento Personal para particulares
Si las circunstancias no son propicias, has de propiciar las circunstancias. Ante momentos de estrés o sobrecarga de trabajo, ofrece tu ayuda en vez de tus peticiones. Contribuir al alivio de la carga de trabajo, facilitará que se abra un espacio más calmado y óptimo para la comunicación.
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Ismael de la Rosa
Agente Autorizado Adeslas "𝓣𝓾 𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓭 𝔂 𝓫𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻 𝓮𝓷 𝓫𝓾𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓼" Admón y Gestión de seguros médicos para Empresas y Particulares.CERCANO| EMPÁTICO| HONESTO| ASERTIVO|
La autodefensa eficaz en el entorno laboral se basa en la inteligencia emocional, la comunicación asertiva, y la oportunidad. Reconocer mi valor, establecer metas claras, y ejercer la empatía son prácticas que me permiten afirmarme y comunicar mis necesidades con claridad. Además, elegir el momento adecuado para abordar mis inquietudes es crucial para asegurar que sean tomadas en serio y tratadas de manera efectiva. Estas estrategias me ayudan a construir un camino profesional satisfactorio y a fomentar un ambiente de trabajo respetuoso y colaborativo.
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Lucas Seng
Business Development Exec | Ex Tech Recruiter | Ex Network Ops Engineer | CDCS | CCNA | ITIL v3 | AWS | Junos | JLPT N5* | - old LinkedIn account restricted -
Timing is crucial for successful self-advocacy. Seek opportunities when decision-makers are most receptive, such as during performance reviews or after a project is successfully completed. Avoid periods of high stress or heavy workloads when your message might not receive adequate attention. By selecting the right moment, you enhance the chances of your concerns being heard and addressed.
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Santiago Minini
Encargado de mantenimiento
Obviamente no solo interesa el "cómo?", sino también el "cuando?" Yo siempre que he querido negociar algo he buscado momentos con poco estrés, momentos un poco más distendidos, de logros... Creo que así funcionamos las personas, hay momentos en que "estamos abiertos a todo" y momentos donde "no queremos más problemas"
Effective communication is the essence of assertiveness. Use "I" statements to express your thoughts and feelings without blaming or criticizing others. Be concise and specific about what you want and why it's important. Listen actively to responses and be prepared to negotiate. Good communication is a two-way street; it's about expressing yourself clearly and being open to feedback.
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Rania Nakhle
Business Administration and Management, General
An Effective Communication is a Two Way Communication based on sending our message clearly in a concise manner using both verbal and non verbal communication, while Actively Listening to others Opinions and Feedback using our Flexibility and Adaptability to adjust our style as required and implement changes while being ready to negotiate ideas/decisions considering all discussed options. The Key point in any effective communication is to practice Empathy and remain Respectful at all times, while continuously checking for understanding to avoid any miscommunication/misinterpretation.
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Dr. Manoj Krishna
Empowering people to be emotionally intelligent, manage their own mental health, and have happier relationships | Former spine surgeon | Author of Understanding Me Understanding You & Stress Free | Founder of HappierMe
Communicate clearly by expressing your needs and concerns in a straightforward manner. Use "I" statements to own your perspective and avoid sounding accusatory. For instance, say, "I need more time to complete this project" instead of "You didn't give me enough time." This approach ensures your message is understood while maintaining a collaborative tone.
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Jéssica Raquel Galione Amorim
Controller Jurídico | Advogada Especialista em Alta Performance | Legal Operations | Controladoria Jurídica | Gestão Estratégica | Gestão de Pessoas | Gestão de Processos | Top Voice Gestão de Equipes |
Defender-se assertivamente no ambiente de trabalho torna-se fundamental para manter relações saudáveis e garantir que seus direitos e necessidades sejam respeitados. Procure sempre se comunicar de forma clara e direta, expressando seus pensamentos e sentimentos de maneira objetiva e compreensível.
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Val Sanin 🇺🇦
Tech salesman serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Structure your thinking. There's no better way to structure your thoughts that writing them down. Prepare notes before your meetings and generally write out your thoughts on different issues: either by doing morning pages or just discussing things with your teammates in long-form text (on slack or via email) - this would help cut down on the meetings as well.
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Ismael de la Rosa
Agente Autorizado Adeslas "𝓣𝓾 𝓼𝓪𝓵𝓾𝓭 𝔂 𝓫𝓲𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻 𝓮𝓷 𝓫𝓾𝓮𝓷𝓪𝓼 𝓶𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓼" Admón y Gestión de seguros médicos para Empresas y Particulares.CERCANO| EMPÁTICO| HONESTO| ASERTIVO|
Reflexionar sobre la importancia de la comunicación efectiva y la asertividad me ha llevado a una comprensión más profunda de su papel en el éxito profesional. Al expresar mis necesidades y pensamientos de manera clara y responsable, y al estar abierto a la retroalimentación, no solo mejoro mis interacciones personales, sino que también contribuyo a un entorno de trabajo más dinámico y respetuoso. Estas prácticas son vitales para el desarrollo de relaciones laborales sólidas y para avanzar hacia mis objetivos con confianza y apoyo mutuo.
Even when advocating for yourself, it's important to maintain professionalism. Stay calm and composed, regardless of the response you receive. If the conversation becomes heated, take a step back and suggest revisiting the topic later. Professionalism also means respecting the final decision, even if it's not in your favor. Remember that self-advocacy is an ongoing process, and each experience is an opportunity to learn and grow.
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Jeff Crouell, MBA, PMP, CSM
Saving Lives and Leading Teams in Success
No should ever tell you that you are being to professional. You can NEVER go wrong by staying professional in any situation. Maintaining your composure and professionalism will pay huge dividends in the future. If you are customer facing and there are some issues, they will probably not remember you correctly the issue. However, they will definitely remember the attitude you had in correcting the issue. Did you stay professional or have an attitude while correcting it?
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Lucas Seng
Business Development Exec | Ex Tech Recruiter | Ex Network Ops Engineer | CDCS | CCNA | ITIL v3 | AWS | Junos | JLPT N5* | - old LinkedIn account restricted -
Maintaining professionalism is crucial when advocating for yourself. Stay calm and composed, no matter the response you receive. If the conversation becomes heated, suggest taking a break and revisiting the topic later. Respect the final decision, even if it doesn't go your way. Remember, self-advocacy is an ongoing process, and each experience provides an opportunity to learn and grow.
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Maria Zambrano
El profesionalismo va de la mano con el respeto. El respeto se exige con respeto. Todos somos diferentes, tenemos diferentes formas de comunicarnos y esto también debe entenderse. En alguna empresa en la que trabajé se dirigieron a mí como "niña", yo me dirigí siempre como "el coordinador xxxx" haciendo énfasis en la importancia que él tenía en su cargo, más pronto de lo que esperaba cambió su forma de dirigirse a mi persona, por supuesto a veces esto no pasa y debemos expresar directamente, con respeto y de forma asertiva, que algo no nos gusta, que no lo aceptamos, e incluso hacer contra-propuestas que funcionen para ambas partes. Decir las cosas, con empatía y respeto.
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Rodrigo Omar Sánchez Alvarado
SUPPLY CHAIN & OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | S&OP/IBP/CPFR, Demand/Supply Planning, Logistics & Customer Service | I Help Companies To Enhance Profits, Ops, Costs, Customer Relationship & Foster High-Performing Teams. Let's Talk
Absolutely, advocating for yourself in the workplace involves more than just the basics: 7) Build Relationships: Cultivating connections across departments fosters a supportive network that amplifies advocacy efforts and provides valuable insights. 8) Seek Feedback Actively: Proactively seeking feedback shows commitment to growth and improvement, demonstrating willingness to engage constructively in discussions about contributions. 9) Embrace Continuous Learning: Stay updated on industry trends and acquire new skills to enhance professional value and strengthen confidence when advocating. These strategies have empowered me to navigate workplace dynamics assertively, fostering a culture of mutual respect and growth.
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Brajesh Patra
Connecting Skill with Opportunity; Working with Clients from India, Australia & DACH region
“Add value to your work, your value will be added exponentially”; this means that by going above and beyond, innovating, and contributing meaningfully to your projects or tasks, you not only improve the immediate outcomes but also set in motion a chain of positive feedback and opportunities that can lead to greater recognition, advancement, and success. It’s an encouragement to invest effort and creativity into your work, as the rewards, much like compound interest, will accumulate and multiply far beyond the initial input. If no value is added, then it will lead to Increased Cost to the Customer over a period of time, even if the expectation is met. It takes Experience to Realize, Time to Digest and Dedication to Embed this in LIFE.
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Parinita Kothari
On a mission to help 100,000 Professionals go from Insecurity to Inner Strength || Author - Beyond The Spark || Founder - EmoPower Hub || Director - Petricore Mindworks
Recognizing your value is not enough, you also need to confidently advocate for it. Here's how: - Negotiate Confidently: Enter negotiations with solid data on industry standards and your unique contributions. - Clearly articulate your value and be prepared to negotiate terms that reflect it. - Invest in continuous learning and professional development. - Build relationships with industry leaders and peers to stay informed and visible. - Curate a professional brand that highlights your expertise and achievements. - Bring innovative ideas and solutions to the table. - Take on leadership roles and demonstrate your ability to drive results. - Mentor others, share knowledge, and enhance your influence and reputation.
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Chidi Chukwudi-Madu, PSM1, PMP®
Project Manager | Business Analyst | Data Scientist & Analyst | Scrum Master | Product Manager | Automation Enthusiast | Innovative Planner | Team Coach & Collaboration Expert | Keynote Speaker |
Build and leverage relationships by cultivating connections with colleagues, supervisors, and mentors. A strong internal network can provide support and advocate on your behalf. Regularly seek constructive feedback from peers and supervisors to improve your performance and demonstrate your commitment to growth. This ongoing dialogue not only enhances your skills but also shows your dedication to continuous improvement, making you a valuable and respected member of the team.
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