Navigating Your Career as an African American
The social and civil unrest which occurred in the United States after the death of George Floyd in May, 2020 will go down in the history books. It brought more global awareness regarding the African American experience in in the U.S. What you don’t see on the news and in the media is the everyday experience of African Americans in the workplace.
Many studies have shown that over half of black employees in the workplace have experienced racism. I don’t personally know of a black person who hasn’t experienced racism in some shape or form including myself.
Here’s the reality. A very small percentage of executives and senior leader employees are black and black CEOs are even fewer. I have been in the corporate world for over 20 years and become accustomed to being one of the few blacks and often the only one in the departments for which I have worked. There is a lot to be said about how to navigate a culture or environment in which you are in the minority.
How do you successfully navigate your career as an African American, especially during such difficult times of social unrest that continues as the days and months go by? Here are some principles I stand by.
1. Be Observant
When I got my first job out of college, I was in a leadership program for college students and there was a lot I had to learn. Since this was a new experience, I decided to become an observer of the company culture and norms around me so I could understand and apply what I learned. I then chose to assimilate the best I could because I didn’t want to be judged for my race but for my talent. Therefore, I intentionally proceeded with caution in terms of how I presented myself and how I showed up at work and that practice continues to this day.
I am always mindful and consider the situations I am walking into at work, determining how to best present myself. Despite many companies’ focus on diversity and inclusion, I don’t think I have ever felt that I could be my true self at work but think it’s great when others feel that they can.
I had a conversation with my good friend and HR professional, Terri Thomas about this topic on my podcast, the Dream Living Podcast. Be sure to tune in to listen to our personal stories and tips. Click below to listen to the podcast!
Also, feel free to share your tips for how you navigate being African American in the workplace in the podcast comments. I would love to hear from you.
2. Work Hard
It goes without saying that in any job or career, hard work is critical. People will also have their own biases based on their own experience or what they have heard and this is true regardless of race.
To help mitigate any biases that may be present, be sure to work hard and do excellent work. Observe company or department challenges and aim to share solutions to those challenges, positioning yourself as a problem solver; a go-to person who can help achieve positive, impactful results.
Taking this approach on a daily basis will help you to thrive in the corporate world. Of course, every situation is different but this basic principle can and should be carried to wherever you work and in whatever you do in life. Always deliver your best in all of your endeavors. Leave your personal signature of excellence!
3. Network
When you are working in an environment where you are the minority, it’s even more important to network. You want people to get to know who you are and get familiar with your talents.
Did you know that 70% of job vacancies are never advertised? 30% of all hires come from a referral? When opportunities arise, you want decision makers to know who you are and how your talents align with the needs of the organization. With that said, network with people within your department, outside of your department and even outside of your organization. Making yourself visible is critical to thriving in the corporate world, especially if you want to move up and take advantage of other career opportunities. You can start with simply being social and getting to know those around you. You can continue by you being a helpful resource to others.
A good friend of mine once said “feed your network before you need your network.” In other words, help others and they are more likely to return the favor later.
4. Find a Mentor
Having a mentor is important, but not just any person can fulfill that role to help you navigate your career. Your mentor should have significantly more experience than you, be someone you can trust, and, above all, be someone with whom you can be open and honest about successes and challenges you experience in the workplace and your career.
Having a mentor can help you succeed professionally, inspire you and help you connect to a larger professional network. Consider someone within your department, outside your department and even outside of your organization. Be bold and ask considering not only how your potential mentor can help you, but how you can help them.
These are principles that have helped me navigate my career as an African American and can help you as well. While there is room to improve diversity representation in leadership at most organizations, put your best foot forward in the meantime to get more exposure, gain new opportunities and thrive in the workplace. African Americans want a seat at the table and most importantly want to contribute to decision-making. Following the steps above can help position you to do just that.
Angela Spears is a Certified Career & Executive Coach through Coachville and the International Coaching Federation (ICF). She is the owner of Dream Living with a mission to help you achieve phenomenal results in your Life, Career and Business. To explore how Angela can help you take charge of your career, schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation by clicking the button below.Schedule Your Free Initial Consultation
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