This is Embarrasing + Self-Advocacy Debt
This is embarrassing. Last year I neglected to go to the dentist.
Why? Because I thought it would be painful and expensive.
Last week I was crunching on a candy cane and found a cavity. Ugh.
I called the dentist right away and booked an appointment ASAP.
For sure, it's going to take more novocaine and money than if I didn't skip out on the appointments last year.
Last year I accrued dental “debt,” and this year I'll be paying it off with “interest.”
Which reminded me of the tough love I wanted to share:
For some of you reading this, advocating for yourself and tooting your own horn at work feels like going to the dentist.
You dread it or avoid it at your own expense.
You unintentionally accrue self-advocacy debt.
What do I mean by that?
Self-advocacy debt is when the gap between your true potential and career trajectory grow because you've neglected to advocate for yourself on a regular and consistent basis.
How do you know if you have self-advocacy debt?
Symptoms of this debt are
getting passed over for promotions you want,
securing less resources like headcount than you need,
not having the executive sponsorship for the project you lead,
and a lingering sense of powerlessness over your career.
I've so been there myself.
Like that time when I was working as Operations Director and felt shattered to hear that my peer, Fred, whose work I'd considered sloppy, was getting promoted and I wasn’t.
Here’s the truth: I didn't even ask to be considered for it. I was neck deep in self-advocacy debt.
I’d been in “keep head down and do good work” mode, waiting for the powers-that-be to notice.
Silently.
What causes this debt?
The root cause of self-advocacy debt is in the lies we’ve been taught to believe, especially as women and minorities:
Bragging is arrogant and bad. I have to be a “good” person who doesn't toot her own horn.
My work should speak for itself. I shouldn't have to bring attention to my wins and accomplishments.
I don't really deserve full credit because I built on the work Darlene started last year, and Steve helped me with the finishing touches of the presentation. If I didn't do everything, beginning-to-end, all on my own perfectly, then I couldn't possibly take credit for the 47% lift in sales my project helped to secure.
Here's the first and most important step to getting out of self-advocacy debt: Decide TODAY to stop entertaining the lies that hold you and your growth potential back.
No matter how big a debt you're in now, NOW is the best time to start closing that gap.
Headed to the dentist,
Jamie
Kim applied the work we've done to secure a $25K salary increase.
For Jessica, learning to advocate for herself meant securing the Executive Director position and doubling her income.
For Clarissa, it's now about going for the second promotion next year with recognition directly from the CEO.
This is the year you close your self-advocacy debt.
I can help.
