Breaking the "bamboo ceiling" at work

Asian-Americans make up 13% of U.S. professionals but only 3% of top executives. To change that, workplaces need to challenge stereotypes and understand different communication styles.

Excerpt: "In 2002, social psychologists published a study on the Stereotype Content Model to measure how different groups in the U.S. are perceived in terms of competence and warmth. The researchers found that Asians are seen as “high competence, low warmth”: intelligent and capable, but without emotional closeness.

When I first read the study, I was a bit offended.

First, we’re not a monolith, and represent a vast and diverse expanse of cultures across East, South and Southeast Asia. But perhaps more important, most Asian people I know are warm, kind and caring. In my travels through Asia, people’s kindness and hospitality were over the top. I’ve been invited to strangers’ homes and fed ridiculous amounts of food by people I’d barely met. I was even invited to a wedding simply because I was walking by. How can that be considered “low warmth”?

And if we know that we’re not actually cold, distant, or polished, then why does this stereotype exist?

As a leadership coach, I’ve worked with many Asian clients who are extremely warm, extroverted and outspoken when they are among their Asian friends, family or peers, but changed their demeanor when they were at work or around their white peers—a practice often known as “code switching.” So many Asian people I know are taught to be quiet because, as part of the model-minority identity, speaking up or being too visible felt to them like they were breaking the social rules.

In the workplace, Asians are often stereotyped as introverted or quiet, leading others to tell us we need to “just speak up more!” The general feeling is that Asians seem to be doing fine, and they don’t complain, so executives avoid talking about any issues.

However, a 2022 study by Bain & Company revealed Asian workers feel the least sense of belonging at work of any ethnic group, with only 16% of Asian men and 20% of Asian women feeling included in their workplace.

Feeling marginalized leads to lower workplace satisfaction, higher turnover and a barrage of negative stereotypes.