WHAT
IS ADVOCACY?
Promoting, Dignity, Equality and Self-Determination
Washington Protection & Advocacy System
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Table of Contents:
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Identifying Your BiasesAll people develop attitudes, preferences and biases. However, in order to be an effective advocate, you must be able to recognize your own attitudes, preferences, and biases. If you don't your attitudes are likely to interfere with your judgment. You could take positions which reflect your biases, rather than the choices of the people for whom you advocate. You may interpret the actions of others cynically, or naively, and thereby lose your ability to work effectively for the interests of others. Working out your biases.It is important to recognize your biases, and to periodically evaluate whether they are interfering with your judgment. The first step to not letting bias interfere with your judgment is to accept that it's there and decide to deal with it.
Recognize that your bias may be affecting your judgment.Ask yourself the following questions: *Am I bothered by this situation more than other people? *Am I attributing motives to others without evidence? *Do I strongly believe, or disbelieve, what I'm being told without compelling evidence?
Ask the opinion of others you trust.Ask an objective person to interpret the facts. How does he or she see the situation? Just give the facts. Don't tell your consultant what you want them to see.
Take seriously any suggestions made that you're biased.Even if you know that you're right, you may be too close to the situation to see solutions. If you appear biased to others, there is a good chance that some bias is motivating you, and perhaps clouding your judgment.
Think about why you act, before you act.When you decide to take a significant action, stop to consider if you are acting because it makes sense, or are you acting because you want to "get" someone. You can have strong feelings, and take decisive action, but avoid acting on your biases.
Be respectful.Speak with respect even when you disagree with someone. Accusations and name-calling polarize discussions, and don't lead to solutions. By showing disrespect for the other side, you give credence to any biases people have against you. If you engage in name-calling and accusations, you may provoke petty, demeaning, or even unscrupulous responses, which will further justify your own biases. When those with other views respond to you in kind, you may feel: "A ha - I knew you were like that!"
Listen to the "other side".Often if you listen to what the "other side" is saying, you will find more common ground. You may discover that the "other side" is not altogether wrong. Even if you continue to disagree on most matters, you will likely discover that you and others are motivated by many of the same values, attitudes, and prejudices.
Avoid Us vs. Them thinking.When you advocate strongly and encounter resistance, it is difficult not to think of those resisting you as "them" or "the other side". This is "positional" negotiation or advocacy - one position versus another position. Those who have different views from your own are people like you in some ways and different in others, but still people. Remember that you may meet "them" another day, with another issue, and it makes sense to start the work of building a relationship of mutual respect now.
Stay connected with those for whom you are advocating.Make sure you are asking for what others want. Your strategy may change, but your focus should be clear and remain constant. Check periodically that your efforts are collaborative and everyone is in agreement with the approach.
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Washington Protection &
Advocacy System
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