In this episode, Caroline revisits some past episodes including conversations with workplace lawyer Hayley Johnson, communication coach Christine Mullaney and theatre director Paul Bourne. These conversations look at their personal perceptions of finding, having and using your voice in the workplace and the world. They explore what this can mean if you are someone who doesn’t fit in and the many biases surrounding accent as well as how to feel empowered as individuals. KEY TAKEAWAYS People look at where you are from, the way you speak, and your appearance and often make assumptions about your ability to learn, intelligence and more. It’s a disservice to you but to society as a whole too. Finding your story and communicating with people how you relate to them and how you can help them can be your USP. Natural bias can be good for us but it’s how we recognise it and how we react to it that counts. Listening is one of the most important aspects of tackling accent bias, particularly if it is a second language of the speaker. Internal biases, that is beliefs we have internalised ourselves also have a role to play in accent bias and how we think we may be perceived. Feeling ‘safe’ to be honest with your thoughts and say what you think is one of the biggest elements in having an open and honest workplace culture where people are transparent. Having employees who feel they have a voice creates self-worth which in turn creates a workplace that thrives on creativity and is solution-driven. BEST MOMENTS "I had no idea that when you spoke impacted whether or not people wanted to befriend you” “Those people who are making assumptions from accents are doing this because they haven't lived experiences that you have is you come from a working-class background” “The further north you come from the less employable you’re deemed to be” “Are you in an environment where you feel safe to say what you think?” “If you believe in the work you are doing then you start to think about how you can make improvements” ABOUT THE HOST Bio Caroline Partridge is a unique and creative individual. She is an actress, puppeteer, educator, and artist with funny bones. She loves a story and is an expert at conveying wit and wisdom with warmth, understanding, and empathy. CONTACT METHOD FACEBOOK - https://www.facebook.com/caropartridge LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroline-partridge-03131520 Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/partridge_caroline