Communicate to Lead
Ready to step into your full potential as a leader? Join communication expert and leadership coach Kele Belton for conversations that go beyond traditional leadership advice. Each week on Communicate to Lead, discover practical strategies to strengthen both your leadership presence and communication impact. Through solo episodes and inspiring guest interviews, Kele tackles the real challenges women face in management - from mastering high-stakes conversations and building executive presence to overcoming perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Whether you're an experienced manager or an aspiring leader, this podcast delivers actionable insights to help you navigate workplace dynamics, amplify your voice, and lead with authentic confidence. Tune in to transform challenges into opportunities and build the leadership career you envision.
Communicate to Lead
111. How to Ask for What You Want at Work Without Feeling Selfish
Are you struggling to ask for a promotion, raise, or new opportunities without feeling selfish or demanding? In this episode, leadership communication expert Kele Belton reveals why 60% of women now negotiate their salaries but still face career advancement challenges—and how to change that with strategic advocacy.
What you'll learn in the episode:
- The CLEAR Communication Framework for strategic workplace requests
- Why asking strategically matters more than just asking more often
- How to position requests for maximum success and organizational buy-in
- Proven techniques for handling pushback and negotiating effectively
- Real success stories from women who transformed their careers through strategic advocacy
Your call to action:
- Identify one request you've been putting off
- Practice the CLEAR framework in your next advocacy conversation
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Join the waitlist for the fall cohort of Ignite Your Leadership Power Incubator
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Key Takeaways for Women in Leadership:
✅ Strategic advocacy isn't selfish—it's leadership. When you advocate effectively, you set a positive example for other women and contribute to organizational value.
✅ Focus on value creation, not just qualifications. Position requests around problems you solve and results you deliver.
✅ Timing matters as much as content. Align requests with organizational cycles and priorities for maximum impact.
✅ Pushback provides valuable information. Use resistance to refine your approach and identify alternative solutions.
✅ Practice builds confidence. Start with lower-stakes requests to develop your strategic advocacy skills.
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About the host:
Kele Belton is a communication and leadership speaker, facilitator, and coach who specializes in helping women leaders develop confidence and impact through better communication skills.
Connect with Kele for more leadership insights:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kele-ruth-belton/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetailoredapproach/
- Website: https://thetailoredapproach.com