Finding yourself a career advocate is the quickest path to success

Amy Dick is president of creative network Shesays London

No matter where you are in your career, your age or industry, everyone should have an advocate. I’ve had one and been one for more than a decade and it’s proved instrumental to my success. Why? Well, first and foremost they help you work through self-doubt. We can all struggle at times with a lack of confidence in our ability to do a job, even CEOS. Speaking to an objective advocate who has experience can confirm you know what you’re talking about or provide advice when you’re unsure. This helps improve your confidence and means you always have someone there for reassurance when you really need it.

Career advocates also encourage goal setting and, importantly, hold you accountable for achieving them. The fear of how to move forwards can sometimes make you feel stuck, so talking about where you want to end up with your career and how to get there provides a clear path, allowing progress to be made. They’ve typically been there before and have a view on how to succeed. They’re also crucial in providing impartial feedback about your performance, a necessity if you want to improve. While family, friends and colleagues will likely always be positive, sometimes you need someone to tell you the truth. Ultimately, they’re just great at providing support.

So go and get yourself one: look at free resources like the-wei.com, weareshesays.com and phonebook of the future anyo.ne/careeradvocate. They really will help you thrive!