5 reasons why authenticity at work is tricky

"Authenticity has become one of the most celebrated traits in every single area of life, especially in the workplace. But this trend—despite its well-intentioned beginnings—has not gone according to plan. What was initially supposed to free people from the pressures of conformity in the workplace is backfiring in surprising ways. Excessive praise of being 'true to yourself' can fuel narcissism, extreme individualism, and a disregard for obligations to others."

"Chamorro-Premuzic is the chief innovation officer at ManpowerGroup, a professor of business psychology at University College London and at Columbia University, cofounder of Deeper Signals, and an associate at Harvard's Entrepreneurial Finance Lab. What's the big idea? Authenticity is overrated and can backfire, especially at work. Success comes from strategic self-presentation, empathy, and balancing personal freedom with responsibility to others. Listen to the audio version of this Book Bite-read by Chamorro-Premuzic himself-below, or in the Next Big Idea App."

Authenticity’s cultural elevation can backfire in workplaces by encouraging narcissism, extreme individualism, and neglect of obligations to others. Feeling aligned with one’s true self can boost mood, but social obsession with authenticity creates negative social and professional effects. Leaders should avoid common authenticity traps that appear beneficial yet undermine objective career success and inclusive cultures. Effective workplace behavior requires strategic self-presentation, empathic consideration of others, and a balance between personal freedom and responsibility to colleagues and organizations.

Read at Fast Company