As I reflect on some of my work with leaders at all levels, it amazes me how often the challenge to self-advocate or self-promote, as well as to use one’s voice, comes up in coaching sessions. And, the issues have only become greater during this pandemic where, in many cases, employees working remotely are finding it harder to find the opportunities to speak up, and thus feel less visible, and often feel unheard and unrecognized.

What Holds You Back

What holds people back from making sure their colleagues and managers know all they have to contribute? What causes individuals to keep their thoughts to themselves and not voice their opinion? There are a multitude of reasons people refrain from sharing and from self-advocating/self-promoting. Some examples include:

• Self-Doubt/Imposter Syndrome/Lack of confidence
• Fear of being judged
• Fear of an unwanted outcome if they disagree with or challenge their superior
• Fear of being perceived as a bragger or an egotist
• Fear of imposing on someone’s valuable time (note: it’s important to think about your own value…)

How To Shift From Holding Back

When working with my clients who are experiencing these challenges, to help them see potentially different perspectives than the one they are holding onto, together we start to explore other possibilities. Some questions I pose might include:

• What value do they contribute to their team and/or organization?
• What do their manager, team and/or organization miss out on when they don’t speak-up, or offer up their full potential?
• What would it feel like to them personally as a manager if one of their direct reports didn’t reach out because they didn’t want to “interrupt” and thus, deadlines were missed, a project wasn’t completed, or the best work wasn’t put forward (i.e. put the shoe on the other foot).

What typically happens is a shift in their perspective. I often witness an “aha” moment when my client realizes that by not using their voice, sharing their opinion, or letting someone know all that they are capable of contributing, they start to see that not only are they losing out, but their team and organization are also losing out.

What limiting beliefs are holding you back? When was the last time you had a healthy disagreement with your manager that led to a positive outcome or decision? How are you managing to stay visible and credible during our current pandemic?

If individuals aren’t offering all that they can, no one wins. If your organization isn’t getting the best of all of its employees, now is an opportune time to work on ways to improve. With an investment in your employees, not only will they be grateful to be able to further develop themselves, but your company will reap the benefits through increased productivity, stronger employee engagement, and overall better results.

If any of this resonates with you as an individual, or if you are witnessing these challenges within your organization, I’d love to connect. Times are challenging enough.

“I learned a long time ago the wisest thing I can do is be on my own side, be an advocate for myself and others like me.”- Maya Angelou.