It took ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ข becoming the CEO of Google to make me "own" my ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฑ๐๐-๐ฎ๐ฉ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ข๐ณ๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐๐ง accent.
Growing up in Mumbai and then working in Bengaluru and Eastern US for a while - my accent evolved considerably. It was always reflective of who I am/was. {Own: To wear clothing, accessories, or physical features with confidence.}
Don't get me wrong, I was always comfortable with how I sounded.
๐๐ฎ๐ญ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ฎ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐ฐ๐๐ฅ๐ค๐๐ ๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐จ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ ๐ and in front of the world spoke with an Americanized accent with deep Tamil intonations. He looked like any other techie you will meet in Chennai. Always humble on stage and full of energy while answering any questions.
These public appearances from Sundar pivoted the internal perception of a mixed-up accent in my head: from something I was conscious about to something that I started celebrating.
As I reflect on my professional journey, these are the 3 key changes that Sundar Pichai inspired in me:
๐) ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ข๐๐๐ง๐๐
Despite always being in roles that required active public speaking, I always have had stage fright. However, once the inhibitions about my uniquely sounding accent were out of the way, I could focus on prepping my presentation and script better. This mindset shift was the biggest contributor to my confidence in the last 5 years.
๐) ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ง๐ญ ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐๐ก
During my initial few years in the US, I used to switch my accent based on the audience. Now, I do not try to hide my South Asian intonations but neither do I try hard to lose my Americanized pronunciations. If anyone (American, European, South Asian, Middle-Eastern, Chinese etc) does not understand me, I am approachable enough for them to interrupt me and say "Pardon".
๐) ๐๐จ๐๐๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐ง๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
Especially for webinars, presentations and recorded events - I have paced my speaking. Not only does it make it simple for my listeners but it also gives me the time required to actively think while speaking.
๐๐:
As I was writing this piece, I was worried about my current or future colleagues not liking these opinions on how accent affects communication OR even doubting my communication skills. But that worry made me want to publish this piece even more. After all, there is only so much that leaders like Sundar can do for us. We have to fight this perception management (internal & external) battle in our style.
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