Official Book Synopsis
Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career is a practical guide to owning your worth and confidently making asks that align with your goals whether it’s a raise, a new opportunity, or the support you need to succeed. Through personal stories, actionable advice, and coaching wisdom, Joyel Crawford empowers readers to overcome fear, self-doubt, and workplace dynamics that often keep them silent. With a clear framework and compassionate tone, this book helps professionals at all levels build the skills and courage to speak up, stand out, and thrive.
My Review:
Sometimes a book shows up at the right moment and Show Your Ask by Joyel Crawford was that book for me. After experiencing a double professional rejection, I was scrolling on LinkedIn I saw a post by community member, Joyel Crawford featuring her appearance on Good Morning America feature for her book Show Your Ask.” I immediately downloaded the audiobook and the Kindle version.
A Quick Listen with Practical, and Timely Guidance for Bold Moves
Show Your Ask is a quick and accessible read or listen. The audiobook, narrated by Joyel herself, is well-performed. Her delivery has the kind of warmth and authority that makes listening feel personal and empowering. I often read along with the Kindle version when I want to annotate (which I did, especially with nonfiction like this), and Joyel’s voice made it easy to stay engaged across both formats.
While my entry point into this book was job search related, it quickly became clear that Joyel’s advice applies across the board: from leading team projects to navigating interview processes where candidates are being asked to solve problems before they’re even hired. In moments like that, knowing how to frame your ask with confidence (or even how to push back with clarity) becomes a critical skill.
While Joyel frames a lot of the advice around professional asks like going for the promotion, negotiating your worth, or navigating a pivot the beauty is that the tips translate well into life asks too. But more importantly, it also talks about what to do when the answer to your ask is “no.”
Carry On Friends community member Onicia also read the book. Here’s what she said:
“Show Your Ask” is a great reminder to advocate for ourselves in our professional and personal lives. It’s a quick read that cuts to the point with actionable steps on how to uncover our ask, document our fabulous accomplishments, and communicate them to those who can help us on our journey.
“Show Your Ask” is practical and perfect for wherever you are in your Career.
About the Author
Joyel Crawford is a certified leadership development coach, speaker, and former human resources leader with over 20 years of experience helping professionals grow their careers. She’s the founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies and has been featured on Good Morning America, in Forbes, and other outlets for her work in empowering individuals to advocate for themselves with confidence and clarity.
