How to Speak Up for Yourself at Work

Getting to Clarity: Creating MORE Success With Less Sacrifice

Ask for what you want.

Little kids are so great at announcing to the world what it is that they want. So good, in fact, that we are continually telling them to use their “inside voice.” However, somewhere after our stint as a toddler, we start to lose our voice; not that we can’t speak, but that we don’t. We start becoming silent about what we want and what’s right for us. We don’t ask for what we want because we don’t want to come across as selfish or full of ourselves. We don’t want to sound stupid or get rejected. There are numerous reasons.

As a woman in business, that’s a huge mistake.

The days of being a hard worker and putting in your time and efforts in the hopes that you’ll be recognized and get the promotion, position, training, or recommendation are gone. You have to be an advocate for yourself. You need to be able to speak up and ASK for what you want.

The ability to speak up and make the ask is critical for your overall career and business goals because guess what? People don’t know what you want. They don’t know what you’re thinking. They don’t know what ideas you have. If you aren’t willing to speak up, it impacts your credibility, your visibility at your organization and your promotability.

Is promotability a word? Well, it is now because it blends with the rest of my point.

I have a friend who is the Chief Marketing Officer for a global organization. Recently, I asked her what was on her radar professionally this year, and she replied she wanted to do more client travel. I asked her why and she said is a Chief Client Officer position that she wants and the client travel is a natural progression towards it. When I asked who at her organization knew of her desire for this role, she said “Everyone!” She said, “Each year I go to the corporate office in New York, make appointments with the entire executive team. I make sure I thank them for their support, I ask for their feedback, and I let them know what my goals are. Marie is making the ask.

When will you ask?

Ask for clarification, when you don’t understand.

Ask for a promotion, when you deserve it.

Ask for a raise, when you’ve earned it.

Ask for a mentor, when you desire career or skill guidance.

Ask to be considered for the Board if you’ve got the skills to contribute.

Ask to learn new skills, take a course, whatever. #JustAsk

Remember, if you never ask, the answer is always no.
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