In recent years, authenticity has become an increasingly important workplace attribute, even while many workers have pushed back on the common advice to bring your whole self to work.
There are real benefits to being authentic on the job, says Julianna Pillemer, an assistant professor of management and organizations at NYU Stern School of Business. Her previous research has revealed that being perceived as authentic is necessary for building relationships: “It's really important that we think we're talking to someone's real self for us to generate the sense of what we call shared reality,” she explains, which is the starting point for workplace connection.
Still, being authentic can be like walking a tightrope, she says, as workers balance expressions of one’s inner self with cultural expectations and professional norms of the workplace. In a recent study, Pillemer argues for “strategic authenticity,” a model of self-presentation that helps workers navigate this balancing act. The bottom line, she says, is to “stop talking about bringing your whole self to work, but let's start talking about bringing more of yourself to work.”
We reached out to her to learn more about her research. Here’s transcript of our conversation, edited for length and clarity.