Sorry Not Sorry | How to Be Your Authentic Self as a Leader

For many leaders of color, code switching has become a part of who they are. From the subtle way that one may adjust their tone to avoid being perceived as angry. To the way that a leader may shift their lexicons when working in an environment where few others look like them. In corporate America, it's become a skill that is as natural as breathing for many people of color. But increasingly, people are pushing back on the idea that they need to change who they are to succeed. More than ever, leaders from underrepresented communities want to show up as their full authentic selves. To embrace and be embraced for what makes them unique. But while being authentic is good in theory, how much of yourself can you reveal in corporate America and still thrive ?

Code-switching is a way of adapting to the cultural norms of others, but it can feel like you're constantly wearing a mask. It can be exhausting.

Why it's so challenging to be yourself.

The dominant culture on many leadership teams values a certain form of communication. And while Black people come from diverse backgrounds and speak in a variety of ways, boardroom culture does not always align with Black culture. This difference in norms cause many Black leaders to feel as if their competence is constantly under scrutiny. As BBC's Chika Ekemezie notes, 'For people of color, code-switching is a means of professional (and sometimes personal) survival'. Not being able to code-switch can mean the difference between success and failure in the workplace. It's not as simple as fitting in. It's about being taken seriously and being viewed as capable.' Put simply, there's a feeling that you won't get be able to thrive in the workplace if you are unwilling or unable to code switch.

Why Companies Should Want Their Leaders to be their true selves.

Not everyone sees code switching as a problem. Porter Braswell of Diversity views code-switching as skill he chooses to use. ...it’s really more of a tool I can choose to use when I want. To me, code-switching is not about “faking” or “acting”. It’s an ability you acquire through years of adaptation and heightened sensibility. Code-switching will allow you to move in circles you otherwise would not have access to. But it comes at a cost. As one unknown writer put it, "Code-switching is a form of cognitive dissonance, where you have to reconcile two different cultural identities in your mind. It can be taxing and stressful." While research in this area is limited, studies do support this thought. For example, writers at HBR note that although "the behavior is necessary for advancement, it takes a great psychological toll."

While the toll is primarily for the individual to bear, it comes at a cost for the company as well. Every moment that an employee is having to reconcile a cultural difference, is a moment that they are not spending energy towards the work their company has hired them to do. And if an employee has never been in a space where they believe they can be themselves, the company has likely never seen the employee at their true potential.

No matter where you go, you are what you are player. And you can try to change, but that's just the top layer. Man you was who you was before you got here. — Sean (Jay-Z) Carter.

Tips to show up as your authentic self.

• Focus On Results — Oprah Winfrey once said, "Excellence is the best deterrent to racism and sexism." Companies have board members who want results. The point isn't merely to outperform expectations, but to demonstrate that your uniqueness is why you outperform. And while this will not eliminate bias in all workplaces, outperforming expectations is the best way to create space for yourself. Like Steve Martin said, "Be So Good They Can't Ignore You"
• "You can fail being someone you aren't. You may as well be the person you are." — While many people codeswitch as a survival and success strategy, the irony is that you can also fail while trying to be someone that you're not. One key to being your authentic self is knowing that there are other options out there for you. This company might seem like the one, but it isn't the only one. And if it doesn't accept you for who you are, it likely isn't even one of the ones.
• Build your network — When you're in a room where few people share your experience, it can feel isolating. The natural tendency in that situation is to fit in, not stand out. While you may not have the ability to directly change the diversity of your team, you do have the ability to build a network outside your department and if necessary, outside your company. The benefit of building a network with others who share your experience is that you'll get to see how they navigate the challenges of being authentic in the workplace. Even if this network codeswitches themselves, the shared experience will likely influence how you show up as yourself at work. For example, the more leaders spend time with others who look like them, the more likely they'll hear variations of how to present something that feels more authentic to them. And when they are in the workplace, they will find that those variations start to come out more frequently.

In the end, the decision to codeswitch is a personal one. In some cases it may not even feel like an option. However, finding ways to show up more authentically is not only possible but could be worthwhile to your development and your career.