Overview
This module will help you to learn to:
- Get support before work problems build up.
- Get clarity on your priorities at work.
- Improve your relationship with your supervisor.
To access the non-conforming version of this module, see Coaching up learning module.
Below is the transcript for the Coaching up: advocating for yourself at work YouTube video.
Transcript
[Audio and visual overview]: Light, professional background music plays for the duration of the video. There are no significant non-speech sound effects. One female narrator is speaking throughout.
[Visual Description]: The Workplace Strategies for Mental Health logo appears on a white background. To the left, the Canada Life logo is displayed. Below the logos is the website address: www.clwsmh.com.
[Visual Description]: The scene transitions to a woman working in a café environment. She is looking at a receipt and a cash register till with a focused expression. A teal box appears on the left side of the screen, displaying the text of the narration as it is spoken.
Narrator: Some people hesitate to ask for what they need at work. They may worry they’ll be labelled as difficult or incompetent. They may believe asking won’t help—or could even make things worse.
[Visual Description]: The video switches to a woman sitting at an office desk, looking contemplatively into the distance. The teal box with the mirrored text remains visible. The teal box then fades away, showing the full video of the woman at her desk.
Narrator: And sometimes people simply don’t know what to say. You might also feel that your current stressors are personal or health related, and not really something you want to share at work.
[Visual Description]: The scene changes to a woman wearing a high-visibility safety vest working at a laptop. A green box appears on the right side of the screen containing the text of the narration.
Narrator: But it can be even more important to support your success at work during difficult times.
[Visual Description]: An illustration of a sports "coaches play board" is animated onto the screen. In large teal letters, the words “Coaching up” appear. Below it, smaller grey text reads: “Asking for specific things” and “Help you do your job well.”
Narrator: Coaching up method can help. It involves asking for specific things that help you do your job well.
[Visual Description]: A video clip shows a woman and a man engaged in a deep, professional conversation.
Narrator: It is not about sharing personal information, complaining or asking for favours.
[Visual Description]: The screen turns solid teal. In the center, two white arrows circle one another in a loop. On either side of the arrows, text appears: “What you’re asking for” and “How it will help you complete your work effectively.”
Narrator: You do this by making a direct link between what you’re asking for and how it will help you complete your work effectively.
[Visual Description]: An illustration of a hand giving a "thumbs up" with a check mark inside it is animated onto the screen. The words “A win-win situation” fade into view and then fade out.
Narrator: This way, you’re speaking the language of work and offering a win-win situation to your supervisor. Here’s an example.
[Visual Description]: A video shows three coworkers working closely together at a small desk. A green box appears on the left side of the screen displaying the narration text.
Narrator: Imagine you’re dealing with a major life or health stressor that makes it difficult to focus.
[Visual Description]: The scene changes to the same team of coworkers now sitting around a large conference table in a meeting with more people. Teal banners appear on screen displaying the narration text.
Narrator: You might ask for a reduction in distractions to help you stay focused on the task at hand. You may even choose to say you’re going through a difficult time, and want to limit distractions so the quality of your work remains strong. In either case, you’re focused on doing a good job…
[Visual Description]: The video transitions to two of the same individuals now working separately inside soundproof glass pods in an office setting.
Narrator: …rather than asking for favours. Then, you could suggest specific options that might help—like blocking uninterrupted time, reducing noise or minimizing competing demands.
[Visual Description]: The scene returns to the original three co-workers gathered around the small desk, shown from a wider, zoomed-out angle.
Narrator: Even if your supervisor says these ideas aren’t possible, you can ask what other options might help reduce distractions so you can do your job better. They might offer solutions such as noise-cancelling headphones, splitting your day between key tasks, or allowing you to skip non-essential meetings.
[Visual Description]: The screen turns solid teal with large white text: “Stay open to compromise” and “Stay focused on doing your job well.”
Narrator: The key is to stay open to compromise, and stay focused on doing your job well.
[Visual Description]: The teal background remains. The text changes to bold white writing: “The Coaching Up method,” followed by non-bold text: “Can make it easier for your supervisor to provide what you need without feeling they’re doing you a favor.”
Narrator: The Coaching up method can make it easier for your supervisor to provide what you need without feeling they’re doing you a favour.
[Visual Description]: The screen flashes to white. The Workplace Strategies for Mental Health logo appears, then slides to the right to reveal the Canada Life logo and the URL: www.clwsmh.com.
[Visual Description]: Final screen. White text on a teal background reads: “Search for other useful tips on the Workplace Strategies website. Clwsmh.com/elearning.”
What is "Coaching up"?
Coaching up is a quick way to ask for what you need at work.
Coaching up is a simple, respectful way to let your supervisor know what helps you do your best work. It is a quick, practical way to speak up for what you need to succeed at work.
Some people hesitate to speak up when something is getting in the way of doing a good job. Coaching up is a proactive way to share what supports your success—without sounding like you’re complaining or asking for favours.
It increases your chances of getting what you need and helps your supervisor understand how to help you thrive at work.
What can make speaking up feel challenging?
- You've spoken up before and received negative or no response.
- You come with proposed solutions.
- New role or new supervisor.
- It demonstrates your desire to succeed at work.
- Worrying about consequences.
- It is less likely to be perceived as complaining, demanding or weakness.
- Not knowing what to ask for.
- By focusing exclusively on the impact on work, it's easier to identify solutions.
A better way to advocate
Why call it "Coaching up"?
Because you're coaching your supervisor (your coach) on how to support your success on the job.
Is this complaining?
No. Coaching up focuses on what you need to do your job well, not complaints or personal grievances.
Does this make me look weak?
No. Early, clear and solution-focused communication gives the message that you want to be a great employee. It helps your supervisor see you as committed to the job.
An example: Your supervisor constantly checks your progress and interrupts your workflow. It feels like micromanagement.
- The risk: If you tell them to "back off," they may feel challenged and supervise you even more closely.
- The "Coaching up" approach: Instead, frame the request around how you can deliver better results for them.
How this might look: "I notice I get more done when I have uninterrupted focus time. To help me be more efficient, could we try moving my status updates to a single email at the end of the day? That way, you stay fully informed, but I can stay in 'deep work' mode to improve both the quality and speed of my work. Can we try this for a week to see if my work improves?"
Why this succeeds
- You focus on your performance.
- You didn't talk about your feelings or annoyance. You framed the request around efficiency and deadlines.
- You propose a solution.
- You offered a specific alternative (the end-of-day email) that keeps them in the loop.
- You help them help you.
- You are coaching them on how you can better meet their goals of efficiency and quality control.
The "Coaching up" method: Core principles
To successfully advocate for yourself, keep these four principles in mind.
- Align with their goals. Your supervisor needs you to perform well so their team meets its targets. When you start a conversation, focus on this shared goal rather than personal frustrations. This reduces the likelihood of you feeling judged as incompetent or annoying.
- Try this: Start the conversation with, "I want to ensure I’m doing my very best work..."
- Focus on work solutions. Come to the discussion with potential solutions, not just problems. Identify exactly what work-related changes could help you do a better job.
- Tip: If you aren't sure what to ask for, look at Accommodation strategies. These practical ideas are known to help, regardless of whether you qualify for a physical or mental health accommodation.
- Link requests to performance. Never state a need without explaining how it benefits the work. Connect your request directly to speed, quality, or accuracy.
Too much noise
Less effective: “I can’t get anything done in this chaos.”
Coaching up: “When I can reduce noise, my accuracy improves. Could we try a different workstation or a desk orientation that reduces distractions?”
Unclear priorities
Less effective: “I have no idea what you actually want me to do first.”
Coaching up: “I want to make sure my priorities match your expectations. Can we review my task list together?”
More direction needed
Less effective: “You’re always too busy to give me feedback.”
Coaching up: “I want to continue to improve. Can I schedule time with you to review my work and provide me with feedback about what I could do better?”
- Be flexible on the "How". Focus on the outcome (doing better work), not the specific method. If your supervisor can't give you exactly what you ask for, be open to alternatives.
- Example: If they cannot give you a quieter workstation, they might suggest you use noise-cancelling headphones or a privacy screen instead.
- The strategy: Agree to try their suggestion. If it works, it’s a win. If it doesn't, you have evidence to support your original request later.
Important note: If your situation involves mental health distress or a medical condition, "Coaching up" may not be enough. Please review Requesting an accommodation or speak with a trusted advisor for formal guidance.
Stay calm and professional
Approach coaching up with confidence, the calmer you are, the clearer your message lands.
How you come across when you are coaching up is critical. Being too intense can be mistaken for aggression, causing your supervisor to put their guard up. If you appear unsure of yourself, they may dismiss the request as unimportant.
See this as it really is – you looking for support to do your job well. It is an approach that will benefit your supervisor as much as it will benefit you. It is not a favour and because you are willing to compromise, it is not a demand either.
- Slow your pace and breathe before responding.
- To keep your energy steady, try these tips or lean on whatever you already know helps you stay calm and professional. Slow your pace and breathe before responding.
- Keep your tone steady and calm.
- Allow pauses—silence shows confidence, not weakness and gives your supervisor time to think about what is possible.
When the issue is not necessarily your work
Sometimes it is not so much that you are unable to do your job, but that you are feeling overwhelmed or underappreciated. In this case, you may not have specific solutions, but you may want to ask questions that can help clarify what to do next.
- If you feel like you are being ignored or dismissed.
- "What can I do to improve my interactions on this team?"
- When it all seems overwhelming.
- "Can we review my priorities, so I'm focused on what matters most?"
- When you feel passed over for promotions.
- "What skills should I develop for future opportunities here?"
Coaching up is a practical, professional skill anyone can learn. Speaking up early, focusing on solutions, and linking your requests to the goal of you doing your best work helps both you and your supervisor succeed.
Knowledge check
See Responses below to see the answers to the following 3 questions.
- What is the purpose of Coaching up?
- To tell your supervisor how to do their job
- To avoid discipline or performance improvement plans
- To advocate for what helps you do your best work
- To do less work than your co-workers
- What is the best way to introduce your needs?
- Start with your frustrations
- Bring a list of complaints
- Focus on your own work quality and potential solutions
- Let your supervisor tell you what you need
- If your preferred solution isn’t possible, what should you do?
- End the discussion
- Ask for alternatives that might still support your success
- Repeat your request, sharing more personal details of why this is difficult
- Assume nothing can help
Responses
- C. The intention of Coaching up is to advocate for what helps you do your best work. It is not making demands or asking for favours.
- C. When you focus on your own role and potential solutions to support your work quality, you avoid whining, complaining or having to share details you’d rather keep personal.
- B. The goal is to make it easier for you to succeed at work. There are usually many different ways to help you meet that goal. Be open to compromising by asking for alternative suggestions.
Tip sheet and resources
We’ve put together a tip sheet with the main learning points of this module. We recommend you save or print it as a reference. There are also free resources you can use if you want a deeper dive on this subject.