Working differently. Leading differently.
She’s not quiet.
She’s just speaking German.
While thinking in Hindi.
And translating from English.
All at the same time, in a room full of native speakers.
Later, a German colleague might say: She doesn’t contribute much in meetings.
But it’s not lack of competence.
It’s the uncertainty that holds her back.
In India, she leads teams.
She resolves conflict before it escalates.
She makes things happen, with clarity and calm.
She knows the hidden rules of India and how to navigate them.
Here in Germany, she’s still doing all that.
Just not in perfect German.
Not at native speed.
Not in the tone everyone expects.
And that leads to friction.
🇩🇪 In German culture, we value directness and confidence.
🇮🇳 In Indian culture, we value harmony.
So when she pauses before speaking, it’s not because she “can’t”.
It’s because she wants to get it right, in a language that’s still not hers. In a culture she’s not familiar with yet.
And in a system that often rewards speed over substance.
She once told me:
“I speak three languages in every meeting and still feel like I’m behind.”
👉🏼Let that sink in.
If we don’t learn to hear this kind of leadership:
🔸 We overlook smart voices.
🔸 We confuse fluency with expertise.
🔸 We take away people’s chance to truly belong.
We say we want diversity.
But do we really listen to those who think and lead differently?
Do we really explain the hidden rules of German culture?
Leadership doesn’t always sound native.
But it often sounds wise, if we know how to hear them.
Can You Hear Her?
