No, Your Accent Is Not a Flaw — And Neither Are the Other Unique Parts of You
Standing out works better than fitting in (and not just when it comes to public speaking!)
I recently came across an ad that stopped me in my tracks.
It claimed that eliminating your accent and adopting a “perfect” American one could increase your chances of getting promoted by 16%.
Sixteen percent…
At first, it might sound convincing—logical, even. After all, we’ve been taught that the more we “fit in,” the more we’ll succeed.
But here’s the truth:
Your accent is not a liability. It’s a travel journal.
It carries the story of where you come from.
The cities you’ve walked through.
The family that raised you.
The culture that shaped you.
The bravery it took to leave home, learn a new language, and start again.
It is living proof of courage — not a flaw to erase.
And it’s not just about accents.
Maybe it’s the tone of your voice — too soft, too deep, too different.
Or maybe it’s some other unique part of you that you’ve been told to hide.
These are the things many of us are taught to hide, suppress, or "fix" to be taken seriously.
But here’s the irony:
Standing out works better than fitting in.
The moment you stop trying to blend in and start owning what makes you different — that’s when everything shifts.
That’s when people listen.
Because the world listens differently when you do.
Not because you’re louder.
Not because you’ve polished yourself into someone else.
But because you show up grounded, proud, and unapologetically you.
Stop apologizing for what makes you different. Start turning it into your advantage.
When you embrace your voice — accent and all —
When you stop seeing it as something to correct —
You become magnetic.
Unstoppable.
Want support to own your voice in high-stakes spaces?
My program, Executive Talk Rewire™, helps professionals overcome fear, rewire deep insecurities, and turn what they once saw as flaws into powerful leadership tools.
Let’s transform how you speak — and how you feel when you do it.
