Advocate

#Beingaleader means you are an advocate. For others. For your project. For yourself. To advocate is to plead the case. To provide support. To cheer on the accomplishment of a person or project. To make sure others know about the situation and view it in a good light.

Do you advocate for others? In order to advocate for others, you genuinely need to want their best. But it’s more than that. It’s taking initiative to get their best whether it’s compliments, raises, bonuses, better environment for them to work, supplies they might need etc. To me, this is the highest form of advocacy and it often goes unnoticed by those you are advocating for. They might not see it but it’s part of #Beingaleader.

Do you advocate for your project? Do you provide your team with what is necessary to accomplish the task you have assigned them? That is part of advocacy. In addition, do you help remove roadblocks that would otherwise impede or hinder the project’s success?

Do you advocate for yourself? This is usually the hardest one. It seems selfish. It seems like something we have been taught to avoid. And when we see it done incorrectly by others, it looks ugly. But sometimes it’s the only way to get what you need. Sometimes it’s the only way to be seen and heard. Or even to succeed. So don’t be too shy. At least not to your own detriment.

#Beingaleader means you are an advocate. Make it a strong case.