Uncovering My Confidence - Third Culture Kid Adaptability in Workplace Culture
Episode 48 - July 1st, 2021
Third Culture Kids are often adaptable.
But adaptability can be both a help and a hindrance.
Elizabeth Skinner says, moving every 2-4 years gave her the instinct of assimilation. In school, this helped her adapt to each new environment. But once she was old enough to choose life for herself, she was still following other people’s lead. In the workplace, she felt off balance and took years to uncover her core values and what she wanted from life.
In this episode, we hear about international life, and how Elizabeth took her TCK adapting skills from anxiety inducing to confidence boosting.
This episode reminds me of my time, sitting in a cubical in California, knowing in my gut that it was not the place for me. Somehow, I went against my typically calculated personality and booked a ticket to Europe on my lunch break and my life has gone down a very different path as a result. To hear that story, listen to Episode 8.
It still took me years to build confidence in my choices but like Elizabeth, it started with listening to myself.
In This Episode
- Third Culture Kid
- Born British, connected with USA
- Living in multicultural Switzerland
- Accents do not equal cultural identity
- Moving back to passport country
- Same culture parents seek adventure
- Itchy feet and the need to travel
- Adapting through transitions
- Feeling out of control with choices
- Becoming a Third Culture Adult
- High pressure corporate culture
- Adopting other people’s values
- Anxiety and physical response to stress
- Mismatched personality types
- Moving to Germany
- Death in the family as a wakeup call
- Touring as a singer songwriter
- Coaching training and certification
- Sharing cultures is not diluting cultures
- Supporting women in tech
- Uncovering our confidence
Who is Elizabeth Skinner?
Elizabeth Skinner (she/her)
Confidence Coach
A Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) empowering women in tech to feel confident about who they are and what they do so they can achieve their personal and professional goals with ease.
Confident Women in Tech Community
FREE Powerful Affirmations Track
Website: www.elizabethskinner.net
Instagram: @elizabethskinnercoach
Linkedin: Elizabeth Skinner
Elizabeth’s Words
As a TCK who moved every 2-4 years my instinct was to assimilate and fit in so that I could survive in new environments. I was good at this and it served me really well until I finished my degree and entered work. In the workplace, my natural instinct to assimilate meant I became a people pleaser, a perfectionist, and most damagingly I began to hide parts of myself and my story that I felt didn’t ‘fit’ what I was doing and the culture I was working in.
The more I hid who I was, the more my confidence was damaged and my anxiety skyrocketed. I felt ashamed of who I’d become, and like a prisoner to the false identity I had accidentally created. The feisty little girl with big dreams and strong values was long gone. I lost touch with who I really was and what I wanted.
So I quit my job, moved to Germany and have spent the last 5 years finding my way back to myself. There have been false starts, failed attempts and beautiful discoveries. I learned German, recorded an album and went on tour as a singer-songwriter, worked as a consultant for my old boss, trained as a coach, launched a business and had a baby.
What I’ve learned from all of my experiences is that my story is my power. When I feel comfortable with who I am without apology and despite any cultural differences that may be present, I am able to fully share my story. And confidence grows from this place with abundance.
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