Episode Details

“Bring your whole self to work”—it’s the slogan plastered across modern offices, onboarding decks, and HR campaigns. But what if the idea doesn’t actually make sense? In this episode, we unpack the corporate obsession with authenticity, exploring why companies encourage employees to show up as their “full” or “true” selves… while quietly expecting professionalism, conformity, and performance. We look at why the well-intentioned mantra falters in reality—after all, no one’s “whole self” is entirely workplace-ready—and why the real key to effective collaboration might be embracing our role self instead: the part of us aligned with the shared mission. Is corporate authenticity liberating, misleading, or just another management fad?

https://www.economist.com/business/2022/06/14/do-not-bring-your-whole-self-to-work