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Advocacy & advocate meaning

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Advocacy & Advocate definition

Advocacy refers to getting support from someone else to help you voice your opinions, desires and defend your rights. An advocate is someone who provides you with this kind of assistance. In the context of DEI, advocacy stands for encouraging inclusion, equity, and diversity inside an organisation through lobbying for change, creating awareness, and formulating plans of action. 

The terms "advocacy" and "allyship" are frequently used synonymously and have similar goals. Nonetheless, their meanings are different. Being an ally means putting up the effort to actively support members of marginalised groups, frequently those you know personally or who are in your area of influence. Advocacy is the process of taking action to influence decision-makers and the people who are affected by a cause or issue. 

Real-world context

  • Inclusive culture: Encouraging DEI-related advocacy can make a significant difference to employee culture. An organisation that encourages advocacy creates a culture of acceptance and belonging through active employee participation – for example, through advocating DEI amongst the teams, promoting inclusive language, tackling bias, and “conscious inclusion” of diverse team members.  
  • Talent development: Advocates are especially crucial for diverse employees who may not have a large network or who might find it difficult to promote themselves within the company. It can really make a difference in these situations to have someone who is prepared to stand up for others and represent others’ interests and viewpoints. Furthermore, advocates can offer insightful criticism and guidance on areas in which the organisation and/or leaders might need to improve, assisting in professional development of the person they are advocating for. 
  • Inclusive leadership: The most effective leaders are advocates for their co-workers. Inclusive leaders take time to understand and listen to their colleagues and their needs. Advocates who are leaders would ensure to put the interests of their employees at the forefront of their agenda and would, in turn, facilitate an environment of inclusion in the workplace.

Related terms

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Ally/Allyship
Ally/Allyship
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TOUCH
Bias
Bias
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TOUCH
ERG (Employee resource group)
ERG (Employee resource group)
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Inclusive language
Inclusive language
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Inclusive leadership
Inclusive leadership

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