048 I “Is There Space for Me Here?” Navigating Identity, Race, and Growth at Work

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Recorded18 May 2026

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Handlerec:18475550

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What if the exhaustion you feel at work… isn’t about the workload? What if it’s coming from the constant effort of managing how you’re perceived? You walk into a meeting and immediately start thinking— How should I say this? How will this land? Am I being too direct… or not direct enough? You adjust your tone. You filter your words. You read the room before you even speak. And over time… It becomes exhausting. This is something many working women experience in workplace communication—especially when navigating identity, race, and unspoken expectations in professional environments. Because sometimes the challenge isn’t just doing your job. It’s figuring out how to show up in a space that may not have been designed with you in mind. In this episode, we talk about what it really means to grow professionally while navigating power dynamics in the workplace, identity, and the pressure to fit into existing norms of professional communication. If you’ve ever: Felt like you had to carefully manage your tone, your presence, or your reactions Worried about being seen as “too much” or “not enough” at the same time Questioned whether you can truly be yourself and still succeed This episode will give you language, clarity, and a new way to think about your experience. Because this isn’t just about confidence. This is about identity, communication skills, and development inside real-world systems. You’ll hear a powerful story about “Danielle”—a capable, thoughtful professional who described her workday as constantly calculating how she was coming across. Not just what she said—but how it might be interpreted. If she was direct, she worried about being labeled. If she was expressive, she worried about being dismissed. If she spoke up, she risked being seen as too much. If she stayed quiet, she felt invisible. And over time, her workplace communication became a performance—carefully managed, constantly adjusted. Externally, it worked. She was seen as professional and reliable. But internally? She was exhausted. Because navigating identity in the workplace often means balancing: Authenticity and acceptance Confidence and perception Connection and self-protection And that creates a unique kind of anxiety at work—one that isn’t always visible, but deeply felt. This episode introduces a powerful shift: Moving from automatic adaptation to intentional choice. Because strong communication skills for working women aren’t about shrinking to fit the environment— they’re about understanding the environment and choosing how you show up within it. 💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn: How workplace norms and expectations shape professional communication Why managing perception can increase anxiety at work and emotional exhaustion How identity and race impact communication and connection in the workplace Why adapting your communication style is a skill—not a weakness How to move from automatic code-switching to intentional, strategic communication ✨ A Simple Shift to Try Today Instead of trying to change everything—start small. Choose one moment in your day to show up with slightly less self-editing. Share your idea without over-rehearsing. Let your natural tone come through. Not everywhere. Not all at once. But intentionally. Then reflect: What actually happened? What did I expect to happen? What felt different? Because confidence, clarity, and connection don’t come from waiting for the perfect environment— they come from practicing intentional communication within real ones. 🎧 Share This Episode If this episode gave you language for something you’ve felt but haven’t been able to name, share it with a friend or colleague navigating identity, communication, and connection at work. 🌿 Our Mission We help working women build communication skills, strengthen connection, and thrive, while managing anxiety, navigating complex workplace dynamics, and showing up with clarity and confidence. Until Next Time Speak clearly… and listen bravely.

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