{"id":34986,"date":"2026-07-10T08:30:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:30:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/what-happens-if-i-stop-code-switching-at-work\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T08:30:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T12:30:15","slug":"what-happens-if-i-stop-code-switching-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/what-happens-if-i-stop-code-switching-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happens If I Stop Code-Switching At Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t(Photo: Mizuno K\/Pexels)<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tby  BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors <\/p>\n<p class=\"article-date\">July 10, 2026<\/p>\n<p class=\"sub-text\">The best version of your professional self isn\u2019t a carefully edited copy<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dear-fairygodmentor-nbsp\"><strong><em>Dear Fairygodmentor\u00ae,\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>I just started my internship at this very prestigious company. I\u2019m trying to learn to adult and be a great team member. I\u2019m exhausted from code-switching. What happens if I just\u2026 stop?<\/p>\n<p>-Simply Exhausted<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-dear-simply-exhausted\">Dear Simply Exhausted,<\/h2>\n<p>First off, let me say this: if you\u2019re exhausted, it\u2019s because you\u2019re doing two jobs at the same time!<\/p>\n<p>The first is the internship that you were hired to do. The second is managing everyone else\u2019s comfort with who you are.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s hard enough to be an intern and then add the pressure of code-switching to the mix?! Can a brotha or sista catch a break?!<\/p>\n<p>Many early-career professionals, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, learn quickly that success often feels tied to code-switching: adjusting how you speak, dress, express yourself, or even react to fit into workplace expectations.\u00a0 It can often feel like you\u2019re carrying an invisible backpack full of self-edits and self-corrections all day long.\u00a0 And the backpack only gets heavier with time.<\/p>\n<p>So what happens if you stop? Probably not what you think.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The goal isn\u2019t to swing from complete adaptation to complete rebellion.<\/p>\n<p>The goal is learning the difference between <strong>professionalism<\/strong> and <strong>performing a version of you that leaves you exhausted<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>How do you find the balance? Read on a little more so I can share the how.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-conduct-an-authenticity-audit\">1) <strong>Conduct an Authenticity Audit<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Before you throw the entire script away, figure out which parts are helping you grow and which parts are sucking the life out of your soul.<\/p>\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Am I changing my behavior because it\u2019s professionally appropriate?<\/li>\n<li>Or am I changing it because I\u2019m afraid people won\u2019t accept the real me?<\/li>\n<li>Which parts of my personality completely disappear when I walk into work?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Not every adjustment is code-switching.\u00a0 Learning workplace norms is part of professional development.\u00a0 But constantly filtering your flavor (personality, culture, humor, or communication style) can become emotionally expensive.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>If maintaining a behavior leaves you feeling exhausted rather than empowered, it\u2019s worth taking some time to marinate on whether it\u2019s serving your career, or simply helping others feel comfortable.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-experiment-with-one-degree-more-you\">2) <strong>Experiment With \u201cOne Degree More You\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>You don\u2019t have to wake up tomorrow and become a completely different person.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Try showing up as just a little more of yourself.<\/p>\n<p>This could look like:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Speaking naturally instead of over-editing every sentence.<\/li>\n<li>Sharing your perspective in meetings.<\/li>\n<li>Wearing your hair or style it in ways that feel more authentic.<\/li>\n<li>Talking about your interests without filtering them for approval.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Authenticity isn\u2019t an on\/off switch.\u00a0 It\u2019s a dimmer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m giving new meaning to the phrase \u201cTurn up.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Turn it up gradually and observe what happens.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll most likely find that the people who value your contributions care far less about your performance of \u201cprofessionalism\u201d than you thought.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-build-a-personal-board-of-directors\">3) <strong>Build a Personal Board of Directors<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ol start=\"3\" class=\"wp-block-list\"\/>\n<p>No one, especially as an intern, should navigate workplace identity challenges alone.<\/p>\n<p>Find your people who can help you separate real feedback from perceived pressure:<\/p>\n<p>This could be:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A trusted manager<\/li>\n<li>A mentor (who may also be that trusted manager)<\/li>\n<li>A former intern<\/li>\n<li>An employee resource group leader<\/li>\n<li>Someone who has successfully navigated the culture before you<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When you\u2019re constantly questioning whether you\u2019re \u201ctoo much\u201d or \u201cnot enough,\u201d this outside perspective becomes invaluable as you continue to \u201cadult\u201d in the \u201creal world\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Your board can remind you that belonging shouldn\u2019t require becoming unrecognizable to yourself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Pro Tip: Seek mentors who appreciate your authenticity, not just your adaptability.<\/p>\n<p>Simply Exhausted, the question that you should be asking yourself is whether you\u2019re building a career that requires you to leave parts of yourself at the door every day.<\/p>\n<p>A good internship teaches you new skills. A great workplace makes room for who you really are.<\/p>\n<p>This experience will give you data on what you\u2019ll want to look for in the future when the full time job opportunity presents itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Because the best version of your professional self isn\u2019t a carefully edited copy. It\u2019s the version that can succeed without disappearing.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>You got this!\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Yours truly,<\/p>\n<p>Your Fairygodmentor\u00ae<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Joyel Crawford:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>(Photo: Kirten White Photography\/BE)<\/p>\n<p>Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.crawfordleadership.com\/\">Crawford Leadership Strategies<\/a>, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She\u2019s the best-selling author of <em>Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><strong>Have a question for Your Fairygodmentor\u00ae?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/SmRtH9VMhhCvrBQs9\">Submit<\/a> your career and leadership questions, whether it\u2019s about navigating a micromanager, setting boundaries, negotiating for a raise, or handling burnout. <em>Ask Your Fairygodmentor\u00ae today!<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(Photo: Mizuno K\/Pexels) by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors July 10, 2026 The best version of your professional self isn\u2019t a carefully edited copy Dear Fairygodmentor\u00ae,\u00a0 I just started my internship at this very prestigious company. I\u2019m trying to learn to adult and be a great team member. I\u2019m exhausted from code-switching. What happens if I just\u2026 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":34987,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10666],"tags":[24936,24937,787,3743],"class_list":["post-34986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-reparations","tag-career-advice","tag-codeswitching","tag-stop","tag-work"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",0,0,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",0,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",0,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",2048,2048,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",370,265,false],"kava-thumb-s":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",150,85,false],"kava-thumb-s-2":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",230,230,false],"kava-thumb-m":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",400,400,false],"kava-thumb-m-vertical":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",370,500,false],"kava-thumb-m-2":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",570,450,false],"kava-thumb-l":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",1170,650,false],"kava-thumb-xl":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",1920,1080,false],"kava-thumb-masonry":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",600,999,false],"kava-thumb-justify":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",640,640,false],"kava-thumb-justify-2":["https:\/\/blackenterprise-prod.b-cdn.net\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/04\/IMG_0333.jpeg",1280,640,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"#RiseCelestialStudios","author_link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/author\/ralph-c\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"<a href=\"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/category\/reparations\/\" rel=\"category tag\">REPARATIONS NEWS<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"(Photo: Mizuno K\/Pexels) by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors July 10, 2026 The best version of your professional self isn\u2019t a carefully edited copy Dear Fairygodmentor\u00ae,\u00a0 I just started my internship at this very prestigious company. I\u2019m trying to learn to adult and be a great team member. I\u2019m exhausted from code-switching. What happens if I just\u2026&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34986","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34986"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34986\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34988,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34986\/revisions\/34988"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34986"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34986"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34986"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}