Allyship: Advocate for Your Work Colleagues

Ever felt unsure about how to help when you notice that a work colleague is being treated unfairly, excluded, or disrespected?

Coworkers are key to not only stopping this behavior but helping these individuals feel they’re not alone and powerless. By being an advocate or ally, you support the diverse people on your team and help create a welcoming workplace where strong, creative employees thrive and are engaged and loyal to their company.

 

What is advocacy?

Advocacy is the act of supporting a person or group by allowing their voice to be heard, respected, and taken seriously. Advocacy can be crucial for ensuring that someone’s rights, whether they be medical, legal, human, or otherwise, are protected. Being advocated for can be life changing for some groups of people. Individuals can feel more in control and less alone. In addition to that, advocacy can be a transforming aspect to your company’s work environment and performance.

The role of an advocate is to support someone else by standing behind their views, wishes, and rights. An advocate listens with an open, non-judgmental ear. Advocating is not about finding a solution; in fact, that is often the opposite of what an advocate does. Instead, this role offers to help, without having a solution the other person should follow. By working with the other person, you are showing them that they are the expert in their own lives, thus leading to feelings of respect and empowerment.

 

How can you become an advocate?

Perhaps one of your coworkers is struggling with being heard during meetings. Every time they try to offer up an idea, they are talked over and ignored. On the occasion that they do get to speak, someone else receives credit for their idea. You are starting to think this is related to the employee’s race, nationality, or gender. How can you help?

1. Educate yourself. Getting to know the other people around you and truly listening to them will allow you to understand them all the better. Do research on topics that are important to those you care about; read a few articles on the internet to answer any questions you may have. Your coworkers might have useful resources you could reference.
2. Be an active listener. This mindful way of listening means listening to comprehend rather than just hearing.
3. Try not to give advice or solutions when you weren’t asked to. Instead, offer your support and ask questions like, “How can I best support you?” or “What kind of advocate can I be for you?”
4. Be vulnerable and ask for help. As a listener, ask follow up questions to make sure you understand. Remember to be respectful when asking your questions and when receiving the answer; be ready to admit you were wrong.

Learn more about being a better advocate and ally when you register for: Diversity & Inclusion Employee Training. 

 

How does advocacy build a better business?

In short, advocacy leads to a better work environment. It creates a healthy and positive workplace with employees who feel confident, secure, and supported by their leaders. People are built up and strengthened by having others in solidarity with them, and this comes with being advocated for. In positive work environments, employees have a higher well-being, more creativity, and are more loyal to the company.

These employees have the capability to bring out their strengths and build more meaningful relationships, including the relationships they form with customers. Improved customer service and client satisfaction have been linked to a more positive work environment. Companies with this supportive environment are more effective in areas of financial performance, customer satisfaction, productivity, and employee engagement.

Advocacy is about supporting someone else’s voice, view, and rights. This is extremely important to creating a healthy and positive workplace. Becoming educated on topics that are not just pertinent to you is a key step to becoming an advocate. Remember, a good advocate knows what or who they are advocating for.      

      

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