111. How to Ask for What You Want at Work Without Feeling Selfish

Communicate to Lead

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Are you struggling to ask for a promotion, raise, or new opportunities without feeling selfish or demanding? In this episode, leadership communication expert Kele Belton reveals why 60% of women now negotiate their salaries but still face career advancement challenges—and how to change that with strategic advocacy.

What you'll learn in the episode:

• The CLEAR Communication Framework for strategic workplace requests
• Why asking strategically matters more than just asking more often
• How to position requests for maximum success and organizational buy-in
• Proven techniques for handling pushback and negotiating effectively
• Real success stories from women who transformed their careers through strategic advocacy

Your call to action:

• Identify one request you've been putting off
• Practice the CLEAR framework in your next advocacy conversation

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Join the waitlist for the fall cohort of Ignite Your Leadership Power Incubator

• https://thetailoredapproach.com/incubator-waitlist/

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Key Takeaways for Women in Leadership:

✅ Strategic advocacy isn't selfish—it's leadership. When you advocate effectively, you set a positive example for other women and contribute to organizational value.

✅ Focus on value creation, not just qualifications. Position requests around problems you solve and results you deliver.

✅ Timing matters as much as content. Align requests with organizational cycles and priorities for maximum impact.

✅ Pushback provides valuable information. Use resistance to refine your approach and identify alternative solutions.

✅ Practice builds confidence. Start with lower-stakes requests to develop your strategic advocacy skills.

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About the host:

Kele Belton is a communication and leadership speaker, facilitator, and coach who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through better communication skills.

Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/
• Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com