Self-advocacy happens when you understand your strengths and limitations, and when you decide what you want to do in order to accomplish your personal goals.
Try these tools to build healthy self-advocacy skills:
1
When you engage in a tough conversation with another person, what is your intended outcome?
Is it to start a discussion? State your beliefs? Make a request of the other person?
2
Make a plan to accomplish your goal, and then follow the plan by effectively communicating your goal to others.
When you communicate with others, speak with empathy and respect.
2
3
Aggressive communication is demanding and threatening.
Assertive communication is confident and respectful of the other person.