Vulnerability, Leadership, Black Women and Women of Color: Why your acronyms won't work for me

Recently, I came across an article about wrestling with being a woman in leadership and how often women wonder about the things they’ve said in a meeting or email, primarily because it may be viewed a certain way, which may impact you professionally. Overall, the premise of what was shared was to say things directly, acknowledge mistakes and communicate errors, leave your words out there without cleanup, and trust that what you shared will land well, also known as S.A.L.T. While the premise resonated with me, being a woman in leadership I constantly find myself rehearsing meetings days before, or reading the same paragraphs of an email for grammar and tone. I even go as far as sending the email and then clicking undo multiple times before releasing it to the digital universe (shout out to Google’s 30-second rule), but something about the “why” behind me doing this didn't align with the shared advice.?

Often, as a Black woman, I feel an additional layer of scrutiny that makes it hard to indulge in the advice of the Brene Brown’s of the world, who don't hold the intersectional of race and gender. My fear of getting it wrong, being perceived harshly, or downright looking foolish comes from an old saying many Black folks learn early in life: “You must be twice as good to get half as much.” Failure is not an option, and how I present myself to this world comes with consequences if I am not received well, so I find it challenging to digest acronyms that seem to breeze by the intersectionality of it all.

This is not to tear down the advice in the article; I think it comes from a great place that could lead to authentic discussion. However, I believe we need to take a step back from analyzing how I, as a woman, specifically a Black woman, could morph in these spaces and instead ask why these spaces don't make space for my vulnerability, transparency, and communication style.?

About Unapologetically Leading: The Black Women's Mixtape: Dedicated to the leadership journeys of Black women, this "mixtape" showcases stories both traditional and nontraditional, with the hope of creating connection and acknowledging the narratives of Black women.

About DeLisha Tapscott Ed.D.: DeLisha Tapscott, Ed.D. is a writer and social change agent with a background in English Literature and a master's degree in Organizational Management specializing in Leadership and Media Management. She has utilized her knowledge within the #SayHerName movement to help others become a catalyst for change by using their platforms to speak up against injustices impacting the Black community. With a focal point on Black women, she believes that "Black women and their stories are ignored and often become whispers in the background, like ghosts in the night."

As a facilitator, she has utilized her talents to speak at Harvard University, Texas A&M University, and the University of Maryland on the topics of social justice, the experiences of Black women within society, and intersectionality. DeLisha graduated from The University of Dayton in their School of Education and Health Sciences Ed.D program, focused on Organizational Leadership. Her research examines the intersectional experiences of identity negotiation and Black women within white-dominant spaces. She is currently a Senior Director of People & Culture for a NY-based non-profit. By championing organizational development, she seeks to center organizational change using a people-centered approach to coaching, equity and inclusion, people operations, and culture building.