Being a strong advocate for yourself or a loved one is an essential, core skill no matter where you find yourself in life. Advocacy really is all about being able to stand up for what you believe in, and ultimately impacts how others respond to you.

You've no doubt heard the cliche, "The squeaky wheel gets greased."

Put another way, if you want to get something in life, you must draw attention to yourself or the situation.

In looking back on my own childhood, and my life now, the cornerstone to my achievement and success absolutely has begun with advocacy. I was fortunate to have parents who fought hard for what they believed was fair and just, and in turn, they taught me to develop a strong team around me - who I could count on for support in any situation.

As I said before, advocacy really needs to be in place no matter what challenges you face in life. It is just a necessary key to success.

These 7 simple steps will help you make advocacy a natural part of your life!

Step 1: Understanding You Are Different And Not Broken Or Disabled

ADHD has been designated a deficit, but I truly believe that an individual with ADHD can be just as successful in life as the next person. Everyone struggles with unique challenges, and that's NOT to minimize the impact of ADHD, but rather to stand in a position of strength and opportunity.

Advocacy really needs to be in place from day #1. It should start the moment you walk into a doctor's office or when you are approached by a concerned individual who suggests that something is wrong.

Step 2: Finding The Right Doctor To Diagnose And Treat Your Symptoms

Advocacy is so important when communicating with other people, particularly medical professionals and other "authority figures" in our lives. In many cases, the suggestion that someone has ADHD comes from a concerned individual in their life, but only so many people are actually qualified to make such a judgment or recommendation.

Unfortuntely, even those who are trained to make such a suggestion are NOT always specialists or trained to understand the complexities of making an ADHD diagnosis. This is why advocacy is so critical when meeting with professionals and communicating with them.

Step 3: Setting Up A Support Team Who Believes In You

Another key component to advocacy is having a strong support team in place. This includes your treatment team, but should also involve coaches, tutors, friends, teachers, or other trusted advisors. It's important that we all have an outlet who we can lean in when times get difficult.

But not only that, these support players should be understanding and compassionate. They should be people who will look past your diagnosis and see you for who you are as a person, and help you get what you need to be successful.

Step 4: Establishing Clear Communications And Open Discussion About Your Needs

This is a very proactive step in advocacy. Many people wait until problems arise to begin communicating with other people. Unfortunately, this can often times be too late because the foundation has been set.

Clear communication from the beginning is a necessary component when your needs are not being met. You don't necessarily need to disclose your diagnosis to everyone (if you so choose), but you should be in contact with people about your differences and what you need.

Step 5: Accepting That Some People Will Still Believe What They Want (Despite Your Best Efforts)

Successful advocacy does not always result in you getting what you want or need. Rather it has to do with clearly communicating with other people.

You can never control how people respond to you or your needs, but you can certainly stand up for yourself and make sure that you are heard.

This is an important difference in the ADHD advocacy cycle, because let's face it, you are not always going to get what you need.

Step 6: Learning To Accept Their Differences As You Have Accepted Your Own

Because not everyone will support you, it is important that you are as understanding about them as you would expect or want for yourself.

Successful advocacy is about conveying a message. Obviously you want to have your needs met, but there is a chance it won't end up that way. Being able to bounce back and continue standing up for yourself or a loved one is critical.

Step 7: Develop Healthy Lifestyle Habits That Clearly Convey Your Message

Quite honestly, this is the equivalent of "actions speak louder than words." It's not enough to simply have your needs met. You must respect the position you are arguing for or against, and demonstrate how your wants and / or needs are imperative to have in place.

Do not for a moment take for granted the results you achieve in life or the flexibility that people provide when you are an advocate. Be sure to show repsect your respect and appreciation so that you can continue to have open communications that result in getting closer to success.

Advocacy In A Nutshell...

Advocacy is an ongoing process that needs to be constantly in place and in action. But above all else, you must repeat this process over and over again. It's NEVER just a "one and done" event.

Remember that what you say to other people, and how you say it has a great impact on how they see you and respond to you in the future.