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Stick Up for
Yourself Have you ever been in an important meeting and you wish you would’ve piped in more? Maybe the group was discussing a way to cut expenses and you had a great idea in mind, but you weren’t sure if the others would like it so you kept quiet. Or, maybe you need to speak with your neighbor about his dog that keeps tearing through your garden, but you’re afraid it will cause tension between the two of you. There are so many situations throughout our lives where we wish we would’ve stuck up for ourselves. From correcting a cashier for the twenty cent overcharge to asking your boss for a raise, when you don’t stick up for yourself you’re letting opportunities slide by. For example, say your organization is forming a new team to improve quality processes. You have some smart ideas and expertise that you think would benefit the team. But, because you’re new to the company, you don’t think you’ll be asked to join. Instead of letting this opportunity to display your leadership skills pass by, stick up for yourself and ask to be part of the team! 3 tips for sticking up for yourself: 1.Be confident. If you have an idea to share with others, speak up with confidence! Let’s say you’re in a meeting. Perhaps you’re a bit intimidated because the others hold higher positions than you. But actually, they’re looking to you for fresh, new ideas! If an idea pops in your head, share it with confidence. The more confident you are, the more receptive the others will be to it. If you say your idea with doubt “I’m not sure…,” “This probably won’t solve the problem, but…” then your audience will also be doubtful. So speak up and you could be the next meeting superstar! 2.Communicate clearly. If you need to dispute a problem, for example an associate didn’t do his part of a project correctly, you need to communicate the problem clearly and sensitively. Your first instinct may be to get upset or just redo it yourself, but that will do neither one of you any good. Instead, sit down with him and explain the situation clearly. Be specific about what you need done and how it can be fixed. 3.Expect resistance. When you stick up for yourself, there may be resistance, but don’t let that stop you. Handle it with care! If you ask your boss for a promotion, he may be unprepared and may give excuses why he can’t promote you or why you don’t deserve it. Rather than getting upset or defensive, listen to him closely. If you can respond in a calm and professional manner, do so. Otherwise, follow-up at a later time. “Sticking up for yourself” doesn’t mean “fighting back!” When you stick up for yourself, you let others know you care. Do it calmly and professionally, and you’ll be respected. Be defensive or angry and you’ll most likely not get the response you were hoping for. So practice sticking up for yourself and enjoy the new opportunities that will come your way!
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