
The problem with ‘bringing your whole self to work’
From McKinsey Talks Talent by McKinsey People & Organizational Performance
March 25, 2026 · 24 min
About this episode
The episode discusses the implications of authenticity in the workplace and its impact on leadership in the age of AI.
Being yourself at work has become a corporate mantra—and it certainly started in a well-meaning way. But it can also have significant downsides, according to Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, author of Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead). In this episode of McKinsey Talks Talent, Chamorro-Premuzic joins McKinsey leaders and talent experts Brooke Weddle and Bryan Hancock, as well as Global Editorial Director Lucia Rahilly, to explore what authenticity really means in the workplace, when it helps and hurts, and what may matter more for employees looking to accelerate their leadership trajectory in the age of AI. See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information
People in this episode
Hosts: Brooke Weddle, Bryan Hancock, Lucia Rahilly
Guest: Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
Topics covered
- authenticity
- workplace culture
- leadership
- AI
- employee performance
Keywords
- authenticity
- workplace
- leadership
- AI
- employee performance
- corporate culture
- Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: McKinsey
Books & works: Don’t Be Yourself: Why Authenticity Is Overrated (and What to Do Instead)
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