It's one of the grossest things white supremacy has created
It’s performance review/promotion season for many, and y’all…a bunch of my folks are sitting in feeling “undervalued, unseen, underappreciated, fucked with.” 🤮I’m working with one person who absolutely, positively should have gotten promoted this month but got pushed back for at least another 6 months. They’re surrounded by a bunch of leaders who don’t seem to want to do anything that’s a little bit hard to help them move forward. Another client who’s a nonprofit leader received a set of mean-spirited (and frankly, racist) comments on their performance review - from a board member! 🤬 Both of these folks are dealing with big hits to their leadership confidence from these experiences.
Photo by Marcel Strauß on Unsplash
If this resonates with you…I’m so sorry. Here’s what I want to say to you: You are a powerful person in a disempowering situation. Systems of oppression are always working to amass and express power, and performance review time is a moment where the veil is thin - we can often see the mechanics of how capitalism, misogyny, queer/transphobia and white supremacy operate in our organizations. Please know that if you’re feeling less than fully powerful right now, that’s by design (I’m telling you…gross).
When your confidence is compromised, how do you take care of yourself?
You might try writing a letter to yourself, reminding yourself of all of the ways that you’re powerful/resourceful/talented/whatever you need to hear. If that feels hard to do, grab a trusted friend or colleague and swap reminders for one another. My client who didn’t get that promotion sat down with the leveling guidelines and gave themselves all of the affirmation that they needed about the fact that, yeah, they sure did deserve it…and that led to them giving self-permission to start applying for other roles. My client with the negative comments on their performance review is working on clarifying the values and practices that define their most authentic leadership.
You are a powerful person in a disempowering situation.
Whatever it is that helps you to find yourself amidst the noise, I hope you’ll give it to yourself. You deserve peace and ease as you navigate oppressive systems and all of the gross stuff that happens within them.
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