Why Is It Important to Bring Your Whole Self to Work?

TL;DR

Bringing your whole self to work fosters authenticity and boosts personal growth. It can enhance workplace relationships and support a more inclusive environment. Embracing your true identity may initially cause fear, but it ultimately strengthens your position and inspires colleagues to be authentic as well.

Transcript

Transcriber: Ivana Korom Reviewer: Joanna Pietrulewicz A leader is steady, firm, decisive, unwavering. Never let 'em see you sweat, always have an answer. [The Way We Work] My name is Dan, I'm a partner at a global creative consultancy. But there's another side to me: Carrie Dragshaw, the character I created on Instagram. As I thought about my doub... Read More

Key Insights

• 😓 Some people feel the need to hide their true selves at work in order to conform to traditional leadership norms, but this can be limiting and inauthentic.
• 👗 By embracing his nontraditional identity as Carrie Dragshaw on Instagram, the speaker found empowerment and received positive feedback from others who felt inspired to be authentic as well.
• 😅 Despite initial fears about how his bosses, coworkers, and clients would perceive him, the speaker's vulnerability and openness actually increased his standing with his team and boosted his career.
• 💪 Being your whole and authentic self at work is important for personal growth and can challenge misconceptions about what it takes to be successful.
• 😷 Concealing an identity requires a significant amount of energy and can lead to wasted potential and unhappiness.
• 🌍 A majority of individuals who feel the need to "cover" or hide aspects of themselves at work still believe that their organizations value inclusion, highlighting a disconnect between perception and reality.
• 🙌 Being an ally and creating an inclusive environment can encourage others to feel comfortable and open up about their identities and backgrounds at work.
• 🎉 Embracing one's full self at work can lead to positive surprises and personal growth, as well as foster a more open and inclusive workplace culture.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the main theme of the video?

The main theme of the video is the importance of bringing one's authentic self to the workplace and the positive impact it can have on individuals and their careers.

Q: How did the speaker initially feel about expressing his true self at work?

The speaker initially felt that he had to hide his true self at work and conform to a more traditional, serious leadership style. He believed that his authentic qualities, such as being gay, feminine, and flamboyant, were not accepted or valued in a corporate environment.

Q: What was the catalyst that led the speaker to embrace his true self at work?

The speaker's Halloween costume as Carrie Bradshaw went viral on Instagram, leading to a surge of positive feedback from people who were inspired to embrace their own authenticity. This overwhelming response encouraged the speaker to let go of his fears and be himself without worrying about how others would perceive him.

Q: How did the speaker's colleagues react to his authentic self-expression?

The speaker's colleagues became more open and playful with him, as if knowing his authentic self gave them permission to be more themselves. Contrary to the speaker's initial belief, his openness and vulnerability increased his standing with the team and fostered a more supportive and inclusive working environment.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker discusses his experience of hiding his true self at work and the impact it had on his leadership style.

• When the speaker embraced his true self through a character on Instagram, it initially caused fear and uncertainty about how it would affect his career.

• However, the support of a boss and the positive response from coworkers ultimately allowed the speaker to thrive in his career by being his authentic self.