Q: As one of a few women of color at my job, I want to be perfect all the time. How can I ease the pressure I feel?

A: First, acknowledge that the pressure you're feeling is real. Maybe you're the first woman in your family to go to college. Or maybe you're the first working mother in your organization to rise to a certain level. But just because a lot of people are counting on you to succeed doesn't mean you should run yourself ragged trying to be Ms. Perfect, with earrings that match your shoes and reports that dance with scintillating language from page 1 to page 100. Remind yourself you are not the sole representative of your race and certainly not the only talented woman in the world. 

One good way to lessen that feeling of pressure is to think strategically. Target the areas of your job that will yield the maximum visibility, and decide which projects you can delegate to others. Think strategically, too, about relationships at work. As a woman of color, you may be hesitant to ask key (white male) players out to lunch, but you can't wait for others to make overtures. Success depends not on doing your job perfectly but on building relationships with the people who will assist your career. It's far more important to let your manager know you're smart and personable than to always cross your t's and dot your i's.

Reach out to your peers. If your company has an affinity group for people or women of color, sign up. If not, find women in your field and invite them to meet for lunch or a drink. When you realize you're not alone in your predilection for perfection, the world won't weigh quite so heavily on your shoulders. Plus, there's nothing like a group of savvy women to help you deal with everything from colleagues who think you got your job through a diversity initiative to getting out the door and home to your kids on time.     

Our Expert: Loretta Love Huff, executive coach with the Institute for Women's Leadership, a training and coaching group