Erica Bailey

She might have been rolling her eyes, looking at the clock, pretending to wash some cups underneath the, you know, far down at the other end of the bar to stay away from them so she doesn't get dragged into it. Yeah. Yeah. You really see everything working in restaurants.

She might have been rolling her eyes, looking at the clock, pretending to wash some cups underneath the, you know, far down at the other end of the bar to stay away from them so she doesn't get dragged into it. Yeah. Yeah. You really see everything working in restaurants.

Like many companies, IBM has what we call newcomer socialization, which is where they try and teach you about the organization's norms, the culture, help you understand the broader mission of the company. And as a consultant, that was particularly important because we would be going out to client site on behalf of IBM.

Like many companies, IBM has what we call newcomer socialization, which is where they try and teach you about the organization's norms, the culture, help you understand the broader mission of the company. And as a consultant, that was particularly important because we would be going out to client site on behalf of IBM.

Like many companies, IBM has what we call newcomer socialization, which is where they try and teach you about the organization's norms, the culture, help you understand the broader mission of the company. And as a consultant, that was particularly important because we would be going out to client site on behalf of IBM.

So they wanted us to have a clear sense of that organizational identity and be able to sort of bring that persona to our clients. So this came in the form of sort of how we looked, looking professional, being on time. You know, we even had everybody had the same ThinkPad computers. We had the same cell phones. You know, we were really well branded as IBMers.

So they wanted us to have a clear sense of that organizational identity and be able to sort of bring that persona to our clients. So this came in the form of sort of how we looked, looking professional, being on time. You know, we even had everybody had the same ThinkPad computers. We had the same cell phones. You know, we were really well branded as IBMers.

So they wanted us to have a clear sense of that organizational identity and be able to sort of bring that persona to our clients. So this came in the form of sort of how we looked, looking professional, being on time. You know, we even had everybody had the same ThinkPad computers. We had the same cell phones. You know, we were really well branded as IBMers.

At the same time, some of these, again, are just sort of internalized norms. So I'm a person that has visible tattoos and I was so concerned of anyone seeing my tattoos because surely this is against IBM's policy. And I asked a HR person, they said, oh, we have no policy about tattoos. Feel free to show them as long as, you know, the client thinks it's fine. We think it's great.

At the same time, some of these, again, are just sort of internalized norms. So I'm a person that has visible tattoos and I was so concerned of anyone seeing my tattoos because surely this is against IBM's policy. And I asked a HR person, they said, oh, we have no policy about tattoos. Feel free to show them as long as, you know, the client thinks it's fine. We think it's great.

At the same time, some of these, again, are just sort of internalized norms. So I'm a person that has visible tattoos and I was so concerned of anyone seeing my tattoos because surely this is against IBM's policy. And I asked a HR person, they said, oh, we have no policy about tattoos. Feel free to show them as long as, you know, the client thinks it's fine. We think it's great.

Exactly. As long as your shirt is ironed, you can show your tattoo.

Exactly. As long as your shirt is ironed, you can show your tattoo.

Exactly. As long as your shirt is ironed, you can show your tattoo.

Absolutely. And we're being lighthearted about it, but I don't want to ignore the fact that for some people, their authentic self could bring significant interpersonal costs. It can be a life or death matter to express some identities that people have. So sometimes that is a really serious thing that people manage where they keep parts of their personal self separate from their work self.

Absolutely. And we're being lighthearted about it, but I don't want to ignore the fact that for some people, their authentic self could bring significant interpersonal costs. It can be a life or death matter to express some identities that people have. So sometimes that is a really serious thing that people manage where they keep parts of their personal self separate from their work self.

Absolutely. And we're being lighthearted about it, but I don't want to ignore the fact that for some people, their authentic self could bring significant interpersonal costs. It can be a life or death matter to express some identities that people have. So sometimes that is a really serious thing that people manage where they keep parts of their personal self separate from their work self.

At the same time, that's a really...

At the same time, that's a really...

At the same time, that's a really...