Why Being an Advocate for Others Is the Best Career Move You Can Make

Advocacy Is a Career Multiplier

Most career advice focuses on self-advocacy — and that matters. But the professionals who build the strongest careers are the ones who advocate for others just as fiercely as they advocate for themselves.

Why? Because advocacy builds social capital. When you recommend someone for an opportunity, share their work publicly, or speak up for them in a meeting, you create a reciprocal bond that compounds over time. The people you advocate for become your most loyal allies.

How Advocacy Accelerates Your Career

It builds your reputation as a leader. Leaders are defined by their ability to elevate others. When you're known as someone who lifts people up, you're seen as leadership material — regardless of your current title.

It expands your network exponentially. When you advocate for someone, they advocate for you. Their network becomes aware of you. Opportunities flow through these expanded connections.

It creates trust at scale. In a world where most professional interactions are transactional, genuine advocacy stands out. People remember who championed them — and they return the favor.

How to Be a Better Advocate

On LinkedIn: Share and comment on others' content. Write recommendations. Tag people when you see opportunities they'd be great for. Your LinkedIn activity should include at least as much lifting of others as promoting yourself.

In meetings: When someone makes a great point, amplify it. "I want to build on what [name] said — that's a really important insight." This costs you nothing and builds immense goodwill.

Behind closed doors: Recommend people for roles, projects, and opportunities when they're not in the room. This is the most powerful form of advocacy because it's sponsorship — not just mentorship.

Your LinkedIn should show that you lift others, not just yourself. Get an audit from Avery and see how your profile and engagement reflect your leadership style.