We all know to act professionally in the workplace — that’s a given. But exactly how much freedom do we have to be ourselves, and how much do we need to “censor?” 
Research by the University of Houston and the University of Greenwich shoes that it may not pay off to be yourself at work. The study looks at “authenticity,” or vocalizing what you’re thinking and feeling, not making things up to impress people, and feeling confident enough to be honest and open — i.e., being yourself.
While being authentic around family and friends is beneficial to your well-being, at work, it simply has no influence.
“It’s not a problem to be authentic or inauthentic,” said Oliver Robinson, a senior lecturer at the University of Greenwich’s Department of Psychology and Counseling. “It just didn’t matter.”
Half of respondents said they don’t lie to impress their parents or partners, but only one-third said they don’t provide false information to people at work.
“There is an awful amount of impression management at work, that is required at work,” says Robinson. “Being yourself at work doesn’t work because of a need to put on a front.”
So should you even bother being yourself at work? This research says that authenticity doesn’t get you very far — but can people tell when you’re not being authentic?
“All I can say is, if you’re at work and you’re not expressing yourself — not authentic to yourself — you’re in jolly good company,” says Robinson. “It’s really normal and doesn’t have an adverse relationship to quality of life.”
Are you authentic at work? Why or why not?
