The moment I stopped apologising for my accent

I’ve heard my German accent in English for decades. At some point, I stopped treating it as a flaw.

A client once said something that stayed with me: “You have an accent. So does everyone I respect in this company.” Then he listed them – French, Indian, Spanish. All senior. All confident.

Your accent tells people something real. You’re doing something most people never attempt.

The discomfort comes from comparing yourself to a standard you were never meant to meet.

Quick win: Next time you catch yourself apologising for your accent – in your head or out loud – pause. The accent stays. The apology doesn’t need to.