McKinsey Talks Talent The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’
Mar 25, 2026
Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, psychologist, author, and professor who studies personality and leadership, challenges the mantra of bringing your whole self to work. He discusses how authenticity is misunderstood, the tradeoff between adaptability and rigid identity, reputation over raw honesty, and the effects of AI and social signals on workplace behavior.
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Authenticity Is Misdefined And Overvalued
- Authenticity is often misunderstood as zero phoniness or strict alignment with identity.
- Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic explains the idea began with engagement research that conflated identification with work and extreme self-expression.
Adaptability Trumps Static Authenticity
- Adaptability and context-sensitive behavior beat rigid 'being yourself' for leadership effectiveness.
- He links emotional intelligence and flexibility to better outcomes versus static authenticity or entitlement-driven narcissism.
Be Self Aware But Manage How You Present Limitations
- Cultivate realistic self-awareness and be open to feedback to avoid overconfidence that misleads others.
- Tomas warns that unvarnished honesty about inexperience can cost you opportunities, so pair honesty with development plans.
