7 Ways to Beat the Code-Switching Grind

There are often two sides of an argument, and the topic of code-switching is no exception. Code-switching means the ability to adjust your expression based on the environment in which you find yourself. You may, for example, find yourself wearing sweatpants and a T-shirt with a fitted cap on the front porch speaking in urban slang, colored by profanity to the guys while discussing J Cole’s latest album on a Sunday.  Then, on Monday, when it’s time to head to work, you wear khakis with a button up at the office speaking “proper English” sprinkled with industry-related acronyms to describe product outcomes. Professionals and students of color can often find themselves stuck between two worlds with hard decisions about their identity and whether they truly belong in career environments related to their goals.

There is one side that says you shouldn’t have to be anything but who you are in a workplace. That you should not have to talk, dress, or act differently to be accepted by your colleagues. The work environment should be culturally inclusive to all types of people and how they express themselves.

The counterargument believes there needs to be a status quo for professionalism. Too much informal expression can be confusing at best and rude at worse. Everyone talking, dressing, or acting completely different makes it hard to foster cohesion. A common workplace 'language' or 'flow' is necessary to a smoothly run work environment. Standardized culture allows for the message to be easily communicated to most audiences and well-received, particularly by stakeholders of higher socioeconomic statuses.  

I think there is a middle ground – that you can be yourself while respecting professional boundaries. Yet, while adjusting to college, and later adjusting to the workforce, it can be hard to figure out what that balance might mean for you.

Code-switching requires a degree of energy that can be draining, especially if you have to do it for long periods of time. It can also way down on you when you are not encountering enough people with whom you can truly be yourself. Depending on your exposure to one side or the other, it can be hard for polar opposites to adjust to either side. Here are a few tips to find your code-switching sweet spot:

Position Yourself around People with Whom You Can Let Your Guard Down

You need a safe space among people with whom you feel like yourself. It It might be tough to find these people in a new environment, initially. Get involved and get out there to find your people.

Pinpoint Role Models that Show You How to Manage Both Sides

 It helps to be inspired by people who have overcome struggles that are similar to those that you have faced or are currently facing. There are leaders out there that have learned to reconcile their identities with the environment. Look out for these people, so you can see how they interact with others. Take notes and seize the first opportunity you have to get to know them personally. Perhaps over time they may feel comfortable being your mentor.

Pay Attention to Your Energy Levels

Adapting to a new environment uses a great deal of psychological energy. The more you have to do it, the more it depletes you. Listen to your body and allow yourself the personal time and space to recharge. Let people know you need this space, but be careful not to isolate yourself.

Practice Professionalism within a Safe Environment

Similar to finding a role model, you might want to consider a way to learn or teach yourself how to take on more professional tasks and acquire more professional skills. Attending workshops on professional dress, dining etiquette, networking, business writing, and other skills will help you feel more in control of learning these tasks, and being able to apply them when necessary.

Publicize Your Cultural Difference as You Build Trust

Some people won’t get your cultural background, but some people might try. Understand that learning to interact with different people is uncomfortable and an area of growth for everyone.  If you sense someone is making an effort and willing to meet you where you are, then give them a chance at getting to know you, and be open to learning from them as well.

Prepare to Have to Teach Cultural Difference with a Level Head (But You Don’t Have To)

Developing a relationship with others builds trust and empathy for this learning to take place, but that does not necessarily mean people will know when and how to say things appropriately. You’ll likely be offended and pissed off at times. Working on pushing past the anger to be able to communicate to someone how and why an offense wasn’t appropriate is a very strong life-skill in managing difficult conversations. However, despite people’s good intentions, there is a certain level of accountability one must take to develop cultural competence. If they don’t own the mistake, fail to apologize, or continue the offense, then resist the impulse to make them “get it”. It was their mama’s job to home train them, not yours.

Pick Up on When It’s Not a Good Fit

 If you’ve managed to exercise the above, but you don’t see a gainful amount of growth over time and/or you still feel like you don’t belong, then it’s time to trust your instincts – it may very well not be a good fit for you. If you find yourself emotionally drained, psychological distressed, or mentally burned out to the same degrees as in the beginning, then that’s a warning sign. Even worse, if you are being discriminated against, harassed, or attacked, and you still do not feel safe after taking the proper measures to alleviate your grievances, then it’s time to pack it up. You are worthy. Take care of yourself.

Ultimately, people like to speak and relate in their own language. That doesn’t mean one cannot learn a new one, including you. If you approach code-switching as speaking the language of a new environment, while feeling empowered to maintain your own, then there’s no telling the places you will go and the barriers you will be able to remove for yourself and others.