Earlier in my career, I developed a mantra: Assume good intentions. This was one of the most game-changing mindsets for me and enabled me to strengthen my confidence and decision-making at work. Since this shift allowed me to stop second-guessing what others thought of me and reallocate that time more productively, I’ve coached on it ever since.

However, as I’ve embarked on anti-racism learning, I realized that this mantra does not apply universally, particularly to people of color. Too often, Black people and people of color experience a look in the hallway that does mean something, or a colleague taking credit for their work or speaking over them in a meeting.

This episode shares my reflection on how intentions can be helpful, but our impact is more important.

Your One Bold Move: Spend time learning about bias and microagressions, so you can understand the best way to strengthen work relationships and support your colleagues. You control your perception—and your actions.