Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.

3 MIN 30 SEC READ

This article is the 4th in a series. Read the introduction article:
​ "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color ​in the Workplace."

​How many of us are still making decisions today because of something that happened a month ago? A failure a year ago? A mistake or misjudgment a relationship ago? 

Instead, I recommend, “Be open to learning new lessons, even if they contradict the lessons you learned yesterday.” Our intersections, our identities, are chock full of lessons we learned yesterday that we are still holding onto. They might be holding us back and we may mistakenly think they’re pushing us forward.

​​ACKNOWLEDGE who you are, how your identities intersect and play out in your everyday. How your heritage/history, education, geography, and income all impact the access you have to the knowledge you seek today. You acknowledge that the path behind you and in front of you is rife with challenges and misjudgment and misunderstanding. So who are YOU today, and what strengths and skills do you have in your toolbox to move forward from this moment?

​ACCEPT who you are, as opposed to constantly undermine yourself, tell yourself you’re undeserving, or convince yourself you have to just because someone else said so. Remember that it took the whole universe to get you to this place, for you to be who you are, living a life only you can live. You are wonderful. You are perfect just as you are. And even so, you will make mistakes and you will experience failure. It is human and it allows us to grow. Authenticity matters and it counts a lot these days. By accepting your strengths and weaknesses and separating what is history from what is right now, you are more likely to give your most authentic self in your work and personal life. So how do we truly get to know our strengths, in a way that isn’t clouded by our biases and self-judgments?

​I like to recommend either the StrengthsFinder by Gallup or the DiSC Assessment. Regardless what assessment you take, the recommendation I have for you is to ask yourself the types of questions you’re likely not asking yourself. 

That is to ask yourself what are you GOOD at, what are your strengths, and how does that play out in your life. Conversely, what does it look like when you are not applying those strengths in your life, and how do they manifest as fears or you getting in your own way or your unhappiness?

​AdvancED Activity
Pick one of these assessments, or another assessment that you have access to (check your local library!). Take it in one sitting and ask yourself, do any of the results surprise me? Which results do I agree with the most? Which strengths am I actively using in my current role?

ADAPT by starting from a place of strength in the knowledge of who you are and gratitude for all that you have ACHIEVED to get to this moment, rather than shame or regret. There’s a TED Talk on the 5 Top Indicators for Startup Success by Bill Gross with Idealab, and chief of them is Timing, followed by Team, Idea, Business Model, and Funding. What this tells us is that Timing is the largest factor in the success of any business, so it behooves you to always be present, open-minded, and have a fresh perspective and confidence to tackle whatever comes, when it decides to come, because we have very little control over timing. RECALL YOUR STRENGTHS and let them nourish and remind you that you can do it, whatever IT is, when the time comes.

Now it's time for you to finish strong and start fresh, and we teach you how to do this with our final strategy. Click here to go to Strategy #4.

Related articles

• Article 1: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace.
• Article 2: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #1 Practice Mindfulness.
• Article 3: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #2 Roll Call! Identify Yourself.
• Article 4: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #3 Acknowledge. Accept. Adapt.
• Article 5: Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Strategy #4 Finish Strong. Start Fresh.

About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry

Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.