Double Consciousness and Career Success.

You need whole self-consciousness for work success.

What a bountiful end to Black History Month. We get a whole day, a leap day in a leap year to take stock and assess and move.

In writing and hosting events around Black History Month, the concept of double consciousness keeps coming up. This term as explicated by the W.E.B Dubois the late American sociologist, with its proponents and opponents, is not a neutral term as it were . And I thought no better way than to highlight it as relates to career progression than this month.

We cannot speak about double-consciousness without talking about self-consciousness. And by self-consciousness, I do not in any way mean the typical understanding as being overly focused on self to the point of shyness or bashfulness. This is a more pathological definition in my mind, more associated with social anxiety.

The type of self-consciousness I speak of is the awareness of self as a being (human) in a time-space continuum. Along with the awareness of one’s interactions with the environment and with others (in a social sense). Self-consciousness could thus be interchangeable with self-awareness. Which is still is (in certain areas of thought).

It's funny how we have no qualms saying someone is very self-aware. In this case the high degree of self-awareness is considered a positive trait. But we get negative connotations with saying someone is very self-conscious? Reminder that words and their constructs matter. A whole lot.

To be wholly self-conscious is to be integrated. To know that the way you view yourself is likely the way others view the essence of you. And it was the opposing state of self for some within the State that DuBois was trying highlight (in my own understanding). That to be an African-American in the country at the time within the social context was to live with two states of consciousness, and to navigate the tension between them.

Double consciousness: Seeing yourself as you are and seeing yourself as you are perceived by others (in the dominant majority).

Not everyone agreed/agrees with this concept. And that is okay. Otherwise it would be a monotonous and monolithic world and who wants to live in that.

Yet, if you have to go into work and find yourself modulating, shifting and policing yourself so you are not called unprofessional. Or if you have to speak slow, and in a lower tone than you generally converse with in other spaces. Or…insert other types of behavior modifications that you might have had to do, related to your beingness. If these modifications are not related to the actual work at hand, then you might be living doubly conscious. Having to code-switch so you can be heard, and not judged and therefore accepted?

What does this have to do with career success?

The constant tension of almost like being two persons within the same time continuum. If one doesn't work on that state of dissonance it can use up cognitive and social acumen reserves.

When you get tired and don’t want to deal, you may stop working on your career trajectory with intention. This becomes a negative loop that can leave you feeling stuck. And we don’t want any of that.

How To Rise. And Simply Be

You have to intentionally:

1. Curate Your EnvironmentFind places where you are celebrated for just being you. No hyphenations necessary. It might be employee resource groups. It might be other volunteer spaces where the joy of serving and the mission work is what binds people together, not titles or status or anything else.
2. Take Away the Gaze of OthersIf to be self-conscious as many understand it is to be too aware of how others view you. This is saying then, even if people “gaze” at you, where one might conclude that the gazing implies judgments of many sorts. You can decide to live in a 'world' where you are not mindful of the gazes and the implied judgments. Doing this can open up your world in so many ways.? Simply, because you can then use cognitive and mental resources for so much more, than worrying about other-judgments.
3. Embrace SpiritualityThe knowledge that there is more to one’s life than everyday going to work and rinsing and repeating. The knowledge that one is and can play a significant part in a purposeful existence can help turn down the inner and outer chatter. Learning that you matter simply because you exist and nothing else. Learning to have compassion on yourself and on others. Learning to practice love as the more excellent way in human interactions. I cannot think of anything better.
4. Clothe Yourself Well.Looking good is good business. For your heart, your soul, and your body. Yes, I said it. The saying “If you look good, you feel good” was likely meant for people from the parts of the world I was born into. We cut our cloths well and according to our size and style. Same aso-ebi cloth for all but different styles of expressing. Through what each person makes and wears. Remember though that you don’t have to break the piggy-bank to look good.

Finally, expand your definition of self. The different seasons of life will generate different versions of self. The key is to be curious and recognize this. Enhancing your self-awareness (self-consciousness) and non-judgmental knowledge of self is worth it. To help you lean in, and reach for, and tap into stretch opportunities and assignments and roles. As you stretch, expect that you will be successful and then look for ways to help the new self be just that. Successful.

Rooting for you this month and every day.

About Career Acceleration Precepts (CAP):

A monthly LinkedIn newsletter designed to provide early to mid-career pharmacy and healthcare professionals with tools and ideas for career advancement. Curated by Dr Otito Iwuchukwu, CPTD, organizational psychologist, pharmacist-scientist, author, consultant, and career strategist. As a certified professional in talent development and career advocate for multi-passionate healthcare professionals, Dr Iwuchukwu helps individuals, put their gifts and strengths to use in and out of work.