‘Bringing my authentic self to work.’

I have been pondering the meaning of this statement! Is it one of those common phrases that is just seemingly right for the work context? Is it realistic? Does the authentic self really exist?

I guess that the style of writing this blog too reflects bringing authenticity to the way I express my thoughts.

I write about this because of experiencing and observing the fusion of workplace dynamics when our different cultures from all over the world converge in the international office setting.

Each one of us tries to work out firstly, understanding the culture of the country if moving to a new country, the culture of the specific community we are in, and the culture of the workplace we shall spend most of our days.

All the three can be totally different adding to the complexity of authenticity.?

You find that you are always asking yourself, should I or should I not? - especially when you find yourself in a minority group - right from the dress code, simple mannerisms and observed etiquette. For example, dinning etiquette, what to eat first or last, public transport etiquette, leave alone meeting etiquette. I don’t recall always asking myself these questions until started working in an international office context.

For example, it is common in sub–Saharan African cultures to come across the tendency of valuing keeping appointments and not necessarily the appointment time, meaning that it is important in a meeting to ensure everyone slept well, ate well, their family and pets are well before or even have a snack before you get down to business.

When food is served all food is good and can be served on one plate at a go, it doesn’t matter what goes on the plate first or last….That is my authentic self, my authentic self is my preferred self; - what I would gravitate to without being too careful how one will react, look at me, analyze every phrase and repeat it as if you were not speaking the common English language.

Speaking of language, when you stick to your heavy African accent you are more likely not to be heard… you will not catch any one’s attention. A colleague will repeat exactly what you said in the acceptable accent and gets a nod…. Bringing your authentic self to work is it possible? Is the new authentic self an acquired accent, dress code, behavior?

I happen to be raising teenagers and both of them though from the same family are so different and oriented differently. One is an activist while the other is not. The activist tends to be more aware of their authentic self even if just 17. Having had to adjust to many things and learnt to look out for situations pointing to seemingly acceptable behaviors. In the past, I would have overlooked such behavior but now are regarded as micro aggressions and my not speaking out to these situations is accepting the microaggression.

My spouse used to come home from work and would consider it a compliment when he was told that he has a good English accent. The conversations would progress to questions such as, how long has he been in the country, and if he went to school in the United States.? It wasn’t until one of our children pointed it out as micro aggression reasoning that why should they think he can’t speak English with a good accent. Is it an unconscious bias thing? In that instance was he expected to get angry and not talk back??

Each one of us has an authentic self but this gets fused and influenced by the environment, friends and culture we adopt. What does not change is always to be an ally, look out for those who have been undermined, continue to create self-awareness and deal with the daily unconscious biases. Living the talk can begin from me.

I leave my work place having learnt to always speak up and be an ally and a voice among the silent ones to really remain authentic.