Get An Advocate
When it comes to building your career, growing a business, or pursuing a meaningful goal, there is one advantage that is often overlooked: having someone willing to advocate for you. Everyone needs someone in their corner, especially at their place of work. Without someone to advocate for you, your professional journey will be harder and often longer than others who do have an advocate. The advocate in question should be someone who has been at the company longer than you, is well-liked in the company, and has a strong network of connections. They should also be someone who has the influence to make things happen for you. This is usually a person who has the title and power that goes along with their role.
In the bullets below, I will outline three ways you can seek out these advocates at where you work. The methods outlined offer a starting point for you to find an advocate. Each method can be applied to both inside and outside the workplace, but finding someone within your current company is the best way to help you progress faster within it. Advocates can offer information on how the company works, advice on problems you are finding in your work, and advertise opportunities to you that help you reach your goals. Once you have an advocate, the best way to keep them is to take the advice they give, then act on it. If they see you are using their advice, they are more likely to invest more time, energy, and resources into you. By taking their advice and using it, you are showing them you are serious, and they will want to ensure their advice is actually creating positive outcomes for you. Below are the three methods you can use today to find your next advocate in the workplace.
Start With Your Supervisor - Unsure where to start when trying to find an advocate? Look no further than the person you report to! In a way, they already have a vested interest in you doing well. If you do well at your job, you help them look good by completing necessary tasks on time and with quality. Should they invest in your personal growth, the assumption is you will become a better employee, doing more tasks, and doing those tasks better. Everyone wants a superstar on their team, and your supervisor nine times out of ten will want to invest in you so you can be that superstar. Start by seeking advice on how you can be better at what you do, and make it known that you are open to both feedback and opportunities. When the feedback comes, accept it gracefully and improve. When the opportunities come, take them with enthusiasm.
Ask For Further Connections - Ok. So, now you and your supervisor are doing great. They are giving you great feedback and growth opportunities, but you would like to expand your network of advocates. What is next? Simple! Ask your supervisor if they know anyone within the organization they believe could help further your growth, give great feedback, and offer new perspectives. The important part when asking your supervisor is to be specific with your ask. You aren’t just looking for any new connection; you must look for a connection that can help you grow and offer advice in a specific area of your work. Think about it. Examples of areas of growth could be specific skills (e.g., project management, communication, strategy, etc). The important part is that you are pointed with your ask, or else your supervisor will not know where to start.
Look For Matchmaking Programs - This last method is usually dependent on where you work; most organizations (usually mid to large organizations) have some sort of mentorship program you can be a part of. If your organization has anything like that type of program, they are the perfect place for you to be matched with someone who can offer unique perspectives, keep things confidential, and be an advocate for you. Individuals who are matched with you usually volunteered to be a part of the program, and thus want to share their hard-earned knowledge with you. Those individuals also want to see their advice prove to be helpful for others. If you take their advice, run with it, and show that you are using it… your matched mentor will move mountains to ensure you have everything you need to level up your game.
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Till next time,
