The ability to advocate for yourself at work is arguably more important than ever. The office is no longer just a physical space and 9-to-5 jobs are no longer the standard. As working from home and non-traditional hours become the norm, you need to be more up-front about asking for the compensation and flexibility you need.
Women Entering the Workforce — Here’s How to Get What You Want
Self-advocacy is the most important skill you can hone.
February 03, 2021
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Summary.
While self-advocacy is a skill that everyone should master, it is especially important for women who are just entering the workforce. Here are three strategies that women can use to get ahead.
- Start with easier “asks” to get comfortable and build a foundation. Those small wins will add up over time. Low-stakes situations will give you opportunities to hone your personal style of persuasion.
- Make empathy your advantage. Put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself what they need most. Then reframe your request with those priorities in mind. Framing your request like this is not about finding a compromise. It’s about presenting the most persuasive case.
- When the time comes that you want to ask for something bigger, partner with your peers and coworkers. You can make any request more persuasive by combining the above practices with a team-oriented approach.
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HBR Learning
Writing Skills Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Writing Skills. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Capture your audience's attention with smarter emails, Slacks, memos, and reports.