The Power of Self Advocacy!

The year was 2006 and I had joined as a Management Graduate though with a few years of prior experience

👉 I would have never learned the power of 'Self Advocacy' in any better manner

The chance to work as a Young Manager bubbling with loads of ideas, newness, enthusiasm, passion, and commitment couldn't have been better placed in any other role

It was my fortune to work with the Guru of Retail i.e., Raghu Pillai - a name synonymous with excellence, results, communication, people management, empathy, and many other aspects

Once he took me out for dinner ... I assume he was happy with my performance and he generally asked more about my background and other aspects.

 This is when I shared that I have joined the organization as a Fresher though am carrying a few years of experience and I could have been considered as a lateral hire.

What happened in the aftermath of this is not something that I had ever anticipated. The very next day...hr discussed with me and I had a letter in my hand that gave me a revised salary which was 50% higher than the original one.

This day gave me a sense of self-belief and expressing my own value to others without assuming that the other individual would know.

What this also meant for me is that many times when things don't go our way in terms of responses or constructive criticism - I've always taken it with a stride and a means to make myself better.

Do you also believe in this?

Have you been a Self Advocate as well?

What views would you like to add for others to walk this path?