5 tips on navigating the workplace as a black woman

1. OBSERVE FIRST

Whether you are in your team meeting, being given a new assignment, or even having lunch with colleagues, the sad reality is that in every situation, we are being judged. This can be so exhausting on the hand, but there is a way to remove this exhaustion.

It takes practice, but we have to lean into the silence. What does this mean? In each situation we face, do not rush to answer a question, or offer an idea – all intending to prove that we are not lazy or not on the ball.

Use each moment to observe and read deeper into dynamics and relationships that are may not be obvious when you focus more on your agenda than what is going on around you.

Sharpening your observation skills will put you in a position to see verbal and non-verbal cues, that can prevent you, for example, venting to the wrong person in the heat of the moment, from calling out favouritism without understanding how deep the connections are.

Until the workplace allows us to truly be ourselves, we have to not only protect ourselves emotionally but also use our skills to prevent us from getting involved in office politics thus distracting us from making the progress that we want.

2. BUILD A MEANINGFUL NETWORK

‘No man is an island’. This applies to the workplace just as much as anywhere else.

This goes beyond looking for other Black women but finding commonality with others who support you and understand that their journey may not be the same as yours, but they are willing to not only be a sympathetic ear but also use whatever power and leverage they have to help you meet your goals.

Going about building a network isn’t easy, but still, look beyond the team to find other likeminded people. It may mean joining a women’s initiative, committees or employee resource groups, industry groups.

Having a meaningful network goes beyond saying how many people you know, but people you can rely on, when in both good and bad times.

3. BE STRATEGIC ABOUT YOUR CAREER

The best way to keep laser focus is to be strategic about your career and it is never too late to start, whether you have been at the company for 5 months or 15 years.

Strategic is often seen as a dirty word, but it makes the difference to whether you randomly land in a position or if you land close to or exactly where you want.

As Black women, we know that even the best-laid plans can go awry because of jealous, racist (fill in gap) bosses, but having a plan still never hurts.

The questions you need to ask are, where do you want to be in the near, mid-and long term? When you look at your long-term plan, look at who is in the current position and research their career.

Reach out to them and set up a coffee date. The surprise will be that they will more than likely be flattered and will welcome the outreach. Don’t let someone’s seniority be a barrier to you contacting them.

A strategy is always dynamic, so even if there are some hurdles in the way, go back and recalibrate and in assessing your career, always ask the question of whether the company is aligned to your values and still where you want to be.

4. INVEST IN YOURSELF

For two reasons, in most cases when you sign an educational subsidy agreement you are usually bound to stay with the company for 2 – 3 years thereafter. If you already know that you don’t plan to stay for that long then you avoid being bound to the company. Secondarily doing it yourself also means you have the freedom to broaden your discipline. i.e. not having to do the CFA, but maybe doing an accounting course, if you work in financial services.

It does take a psychological shift to appreciate that the original outlay might seem like a lot when some course starts at 3000 (EUR/GBP), but by focusing on the outcome and what it will bring, as well as how you can optimize your disposable income will be a very convincing argument.

5. HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN

No matter how secure things may seem, you never know what can happen. This means that we cannot afford to get comfortable.

A contingency plan is like insurance, you have it, even if you never plan to use it.

All the points mentioned above form a part of your contingency plan and will make sure that you can cushion yourself as much as possible from the turbulent world that is known as corporate life.